The EU’s High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security, Josep Borrell, announced that sanctions would be imposed on Russia for recognizing the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics.
The sanctions affected 27 Russian individuals and entities that it said were linked to the European Union’s decision to recognize Donetsk and Luhansk and to finance Russian operations in the Donbass region.
Sanctions were also imposed on 351 deputies of the Russian State Duma who voted to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.
Borrell said the European Union had unanimously decided to implement the sanctions and that they would “do great harm to Russia”.
The sanctions also block Russia’s access to the European financial market.
Borrell also welcomed Germany’s decision to halt approval of the “North Stream 2” project, which will pump Russian gas into Germany via the Baltic Sea.
He stressed that the European Union will continue its diplomatic efforts within the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to “return Russia to the negotiating table”.
Prior to that, Borrell told the French newspaper “France Info” on Tuesday that “personal sanctions will be imposed against everyone responsible for making these decisions, especially those in charge of the Russian parliamentary and military sector.”
He added that the sanctions “will also affect the banks that finance the oligarchs, members of the Russian government and those close to it.”
On Monday, February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed two decrees recognizing the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics from Ukraine.
Source: RT + agencies
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