EU agrees in principle on 13th package of sanctions against Russia

Belgium, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU), said on February 21 that the bloc had agreed on the 13th package of sanctions against Russia related to the special military operation in Ukraine.

According to the source, EU ambassadors have agreed in principle on the 13th package of sanctions against Russia.

The new sanctions package will target nearly 200 Russian entities and individuals but does not contain new sectoral sanctions.

The sanctions package is expected to be officially approved on February 24, the second anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Late last year, the EU adopted its 12th package of sanctions against Russia, focusing on imposing bans on the import of diamonds of Russian origin, as well as imposing additional import and export bans on Russian goods, preventing sanctions circumvention and "closing loopholes" in sanctions.

The sanctions package also adds more than 140 individuals and entities to the asset freeze list.