After several weeks, EU leaders finally managed to agree on a sixth sanctions package against Russia.
Two more banks will be disconnected from the international payment system Swift and more will be added to the list of people who are stopped from entering the EU and have their potential assets frozen.
But the most powerful measure in the package is a import ban on Russian oil.
- It can be said that this is the most powerful measure that has been implemented so far.
It will reduce Russia's export revenues from oil exports, says Andreas Johnsson, analyst at the Swedish Defense Research Agency, FOI
Long-term effects
With increased exports to countries such as China and India, Russia's economy can handle the stop relatively well in the short term, Andreas Johnson believes.
But replacing the EU as an export market will be difficult.
- Although it may not be visible now, it will be a very big challenge for Russia to try to redirect its exports of oil to other countries instead of the EU.
Countries excluded
The import ban is introduced with certain exceptions.
The Czech Republic and Slovakia, but also Hungary, which previously opposed a ban on oil imports, are affected by the exemptions, as the countries receive Russian oil via pipelines.
- An exception is made for oil that is transported via oil pipelines, but all oil that comes via boat, which makes up the vast majority, is stopped, says SVT's European correspondent David Boati.
Andreas Jonhsson does not think the risk that other EU countries will import oil, which originally comes from Russia but has stoppedover in another country, will be a problem.
- There are signs that Russia has tried to circumvent the sanctions in different ways, but there are different technical ways to follow where the oil supply comes from.
So I think you can practically handle that question.