Strasbourg (Eurotoday) – Adam Szlapka, Minister for European Affairs of Poland, confirmed the EU’s plan to approve the 16th package of sanctions against Russia. The sanction package will be adopted by the third anniversary of the start of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
How will the EU use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine?
Minister for European Affairs of Poland, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Council, made this announcement in Strasbourg while speaking in the European Parliament during a plenary session dedicated to the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
He also confirmed the allocation of a second tranche of EUR 1.9 billion from frozen Russian assets in April of this year.
“We are also using the extraordinary revenues generated by immobilized Russian assets to help Ukraine’s self-defense and reconstruction. The first tranche of EUR 1.5 billion was released last summer, and a second tranche of EUR 1.9 billion is coming in April. In addition, the EU has subscribed to the G7 loan for Ukraine, where we are the main contributor. And our support is continuing. This year alone, EU support to Ukraine’s budget was over EUR 30 billion,”
he stated.
Szlapka emphasized that the consequences of this war extend well beyond Ukraine. He warned that Russia’s war of domination poses a direct threat to Europe and the broader international system. He further highlighted that the conflict has polarized international relations, undermined the rules-based international order, and created a global crisis, particularly in the food and energy sectors.
When did the EU impose the 15th sanction package?
Earlier, on December 16, 2024, the European Union approved its 15th sanctions package against Russia. These sanctions are aimed at restricting Russia’s ability to continue its war in Ukraine. The package includes asset-freezing orders targeting 54 individuals and 30 entities.
Among those affected are senior managers of major Russian energy companies, as well as entities directly supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex. Notably, this marks the first time Chinese companies supplying drone components and microelectronic parts for Russia’s war effort have been sanctioned.
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