The European Union is preparing to impose a raft of sanctions on hundreds of Russians responsible for the invasion of Ukraine. That sentinel reports. This relates to the freezing of all assets within the European Union and travel restrictions. Top of the sanctions list is Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
In addition to Shoigu, the EU targets the supreme commanders of the Russian Air Force and Black Sea Fleet, 351 members of parliament and a list of state advocates. The measures would be heavier than the sanctions the United States had already announced on Tuesday, or those imposed on the United Kingdom. In addition to hundreds of individuals, the assets of three Russian banks and the notorious “interettrol plant” in Saint Petersburg were frozen.
The government of President Vladimir Putin is also restricted in its ability to do business in the financial markets within the European Union. In addition, a ban on all trade between the EU and Donetsk and Luhansk, the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine that Russia declared independent states, is in the pipeline. This ban already applies to trade with the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia.
The reason Minister Shoigu tops the list is that he is ultimately considered to be primarily responsible for any military action against Ukraine, according to a draft list held by The Guardian. Immediately below him is Anton Vaino, Putin’s chief of staff who takes an active part in the decision-making on aggression against Ukraine. Among the preachers on the list are Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova and head of the Russian state propaganda channel RT Margarita Simonyan.
On Tuesday, the US and UK already imposed a laundry list of sanctions on 351 deputies from Russia’s State Duma who voted to recognize Donetsk and Luhansk. Japan also announced sanctions against Russia. Putin himself is avoiding all sanctions for the time being, because the West wants to leave room for negotiation with him. China has rejected the sanctions and said a diplomatic solution must be found.
