European Union

The European Union, meeting at a summit in Brussels, announced on Thursday evening that it would toughen its sanctions against Russia in the energy, finance and transport sectors, but without immediately excluding it from the Swift banking network, which makes it possible to receive or issue payments worldwide.

This includes drastically limiting Russia's access to European capital markets.

The EU will also reduce Russia's access to "crucial technologies", depriving it of electronic components and software.

According to a draft text consulted by AFP, it would notably include a ban on exporting planes, parts and equipment from the aeronautics and space industry to Russia, as well as refining technologies for the oil industry.

New sanctions would strike individuals in the circles of power (freezing of assets, prohibition of European territory, etc.).

They will be added to those already in force on Wednesday evening, in particular against personalities close to Putin.

Belarus, accused of being involved in Russian operations, will also be hit with additional sanctions.

United States

US President Joe Biden also announced a series of new sanctions on Thursday targeting Russian banks, elites and exports.

US President Joe Biden answers questions from journalists after announcing new sanctions against Russia, February 24, 2022 Brendan Smialowski AFP

Four more Russian banks, including the country's two largest, Sberbank and VTB Bank, will be sanctioned and more than half of Russia's technology imports cut, he said in a speech from the White House.

Energy giant Gazprom and other big companies in the country - 13 in total - for their part will no longer be able to raise money on Western financial markets, a sanction that had already been imposed on the Russian government itself. .

The United States has also extended the list of penalized Russian oligarchs and restricted exports to Russia of technological products intended for the defense and aeronautics sectors.

Washington also announced sanctions against 24 Belarusian individuals and organizations accused of supporting and aiding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Treasury Department said Thursday.

UK

The UK imposed a new round of sanctions against Russia on Thursday, banning airline Aeroflot from serving the UK and targeting the banking sector, tech exports and five businessmen.

Russian airline Aeroflot banned from entering UK after Ukraine invasion Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV AFP/Archives

In addition to five banks already sanctioned on Tuesday, the Russian public banking giant VTB is targeted and sees its assets on British soil frozen.

More generally, the new measures "will allow us to completely exclude Russian banks from the British financial sector", said Boris Johnson.

They will also prevent public and private companies from raising funds in the UK and limit the sums Russians can hold in their UK bank accounts.

A total of 100 new entities will be targeted.

Japan

Japan announced additional sanctions against Moscow on Friday, targeting the financial sector and the export of electronic components.

"In addition to the sanctions announced (Wednesday), the (new) sanctions include the freezing of assets and the suspension of the issuance of visas to Russian individuals and organizations," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in Tokyo after an online meeting leaders of the seven industrialized countries of the G7.

Mr Kishida also announced further measures “on exports to Russian organizations linked to the military” and on “general purpose goods like semiconductors and items on a restricted list based on international agreements. ".

Canada

Canada will sanction "58 Russian individuals and entities", announced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Sanctions against Russia Gal ROMA AFP

Russian ministers are precisely targeted by the sanctions: those of Defense, Finance and Justice, as well as the group of Russian mercenaries Wagner, reputed to be close to President Vladimir Putin.

Canada has also suspended export permits for Russia, worth more than 700 million Canadian dollars (487 million euros) and targeting in particular companies in the aerospace, mining and information technology sectors.

- Australia -

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Thursday a "second round" of sanctions against four financial institutions and 25 people belonging to four entities in charge of the development and sale of military equipment.

He said further rounds of sanctions, including against more than 300 Duma members who voted for the "illegal invasion of Ukraine", will be imposed "as we identify the responsible".

Swiss

Switzerland decided on Thursday not to align itself with Western sanctions on Russia, but will take the necessary measures to avoid being used as a base for circumvention by Moscow, Swiss President Ignazio Cassis said.

© 2022 AFP