EU Council extends sanctions against Russia over Crimea annexation

The Council of the European Union has extended the sanctions related to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol for one year.

UNN reports, referring to the press service of the European Council.

"The EU Council decided to extend the sanctions imposed in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation for the next year until June 23, 2022," the European Council said.

Current sanctions include restrictions on targeted imports of goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol into the EU, as well as infrastructural or financial investments and tourism services in Crimea or Sevastopol. Exports of certain goods and technologies to Crimean companies, either for use in Crimea in the transport, telecommunications, and energy sectors or for exploration, research, and production of oil, gas, and mineral resources, are also subject to EU restrictions.

"The EU doesn't recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and continues to condemn this violation of international law in accordance with the statement of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on behalf of the EU on March 16, 2020," the statement said.

Note

These sanctions were first imposed in June 2014 in response to attempts to deliberately undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity and destabilize the country.

Since March 2014, the EU has imposed restrictive measures against Russia, including against certain sectors of the Russian economy and individual restrictive measures, in response to this deliberate destabilization of Ukraine, including the sanctions extended today.