China News Agency, Brussels, February 23 (Reporter De Yongjian) In response to Russia's recognition of the "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic", the European Union launched political and financial sanctions on Russia on the 23rd and imposed sanctions on "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic" The Tsk People's Republic" and the "Luhansk People's Republic" imposed economic sanctions.

  According to the announcement issued by the European Council on the same day, the European Union will vote for the recognition of the "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic" 351 members of the Russian State Duma as the target of sanctions. Twenty-seven individuals and entities, including individuals, businessmen, and banks, are targeted, barring them from entering the EU and freezing their property within EU jurisdiction.

  In terms of financial sanctions, the provision of funds to the Russian government and the central bank is prohibited, and the Russian government's access to EU capital and financial markets and related services are restricted.

  In terms of economic sanctions, the import of goods from the "Donetsk People's Republic" and the "Luhansk People's Republic" is prohibited, the export of certain commodities and technologies to the two places is restricted, trade and investment related to some economic fields are restricted, and two local tourism services.

  The announcement stated that the EU will publish a list of sanctions later, including the names of the sanction targets; the EU will follow-up on the development of the situation, ready to impose additional political and economic sanctions on Russia at any time.

  After Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order on February 21 to recognize the "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic", Germany has announced on the 22nd that it has suspended the certification process of the "North Stream-2" natural gas pipeline project and will re-evaluate The supply security of the "North Stream-2" natural gas pipeline.

  In addition to the sanctions initiated on the 23rd, since July 2014, the EU has been imposing economic sanctions against Russia, sanctions against Russian individuals and entities, and the "illegal annexation" of Crimea by Russia on the grounds of "destroying the stability of eastern Ukraine". and the city of Sevastopol to impose economic sanctions on Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

  The EU announcement shows that, including the Russian State Duma members and 27 individuals and entities that were listed as sanctions on the 23rd, the EU currently imposes sanctions on 555 individuals and 52 entities in Russia.

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