China News Agency, Brussels, June 29 (Reporter De Yongjian) The EU once again extended economic sanctions against Russia until January 31 next year on the grounds that the ceasefire agreement in Ukraine was not fully implemented on the 29th.
According to the announcement issued by the European Council on the same day, during the EU "Video Summit" on June 19, the leaders of the EU member states evaluated the implementation of the current Minsk agreement (the ceasefire agreement reached by the civilian forces in eastern Ukraine and the Ukrainian government). As a result, it was determined that the Minsk agreement had not been fully implemented, and it was decided to continue to extend economic sanctions against Russia.
The EU's economic sanctions against Russia have been going on for 6 years. In July 2014, the European Union began to impose economic sanctions on Russia on the grounds of "destroying the stability of eastern Ukraine". In September of that year, sanctions were increased. At present, EU economic sanctions mainly target Russia's finance, defense, military-civilian dual-use products and energy fields.
Specifically, the EU now restricts Russian energy companies, defense companies, state-owned financial institutions and their holding subsidiaries established outside the EU from entering the primary and secondary markets of the EU capital market; it is prohibited to provide financial support and intermediary services to Russian financial institutions.
At the same time, the EU prohibits the direct or indirect import, export or transfer of any defense materials to Russia, and prohibits the export of military-civilian dual-use products that can be used for military purposes to Russia; restricts Russia's access to sensitive technologies in the energy field, such as oil exploration and production Sensitive technology.
Since 2015, the EU has linked the period of economic sanctions against Russia to the implementation of the Minsk agreement. Since then, the EU has repeatedly extended economic sanctions against Russia on the grounds that the Minsk agreement has not been fully implemented.
In addition to economic sanctions, the EU is currently imposing sanctions on 175 individuals and 44 entities in Russia, prohibiting them from entering the EU and freezing their property within the jurisdiction of the EU, while simultaneously “illegally annexing” Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia The city of Bol imposed economic sanctions on Crimea and Sevastopol.
Regarding EU economic sanctions, Russia has adopted countermeasures such as restricting the import of EU agricultural products, and has repeatedly emphasized that Russia is not a participant in the Ukrainian conflict or the main body of the implementation of the Minsk agreement. The EU has repeatedly dialogued with Russia in the "sanction language". It will only backfire. (Finish)