Updated 02:15 (MSK)
MOSCOW, September 6 (RIA Novosti) - The European Union will add Russian decision-makers, oligarchs, leadership of Donbas and the Crimea in the sanctions list, a joint letter by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, on restrictive measures against Russia said.
“As requested by the European Council, the Commission and the EEAS presented to COREPER on 3rd September a set of enhanced measures, related to access to capital markets, defense, dual use goods, and sensitive technologies,” the letter reads. “Additionally, a new list of individuals, including the new leadership in Donbass, the government of Crimea as well as Russian decision-makers and oligarchs was presented.”
The new list of sanctions against Moscow is expected to be formally adopted on Monday, and will be published Tuesday, according to high-ranking EU officials.
Back in March, in response to Crimea’s reunification with Russia the United States and the European Union introduced the first package of targeted sanctions against a number of Russian high-ranking officials. As the Ukrainian crisis escalated, the United States pressed for its Western allies to follow its lead. Norway, Canada, Australia and Japan also caved in to the US sanctions push and drew up their own blacklists.
In July, the West moved from targeting individuals to hitting entire sectors on Russian economy, including defense, energy and banking. The latest round of sanctions, imposed by the United States and EU member-states was largely economic and has significantly complicated access to European capital markets for a number of Russian banks.
In August, Moscow was forced to introduce protective measures banning for a year the import of agricultural and food products from countries that had imposed sanctions on Russia.
