Josep Borrell – Photo © European Union 2022
(LUXEMBOURG) – EU foreign ministers decided Monday to renew for another year sanctions introduced as a response to the illegal annexation in 2014 of Crimea and the city of Sebastopol by the Russian Federation.
Sanctions currently in place, first introduced in June 2014, include prohibitions targeting the imports of products originating from the illegally annexed Crimea or Sebastopol into the EU, and infrastructural or financial investments and tourism services from the illegally annexed Crimea or Sebastopol.
Furthermore, the exports of certain goods and technologies to Crimean companies or for use in illegally annexed Crimea in the transport, telecommunications and energy sectors or for the prospection, exploration and production of oil, gas and mineral resources are also subject to EU restrictions.
As stated by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in his Declaration on behalf of the EU on 25 February 2022, eight years since the violent, illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sebastopol by the Russian Federation, the EU does not recognise and continues to condemn the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula as a serious violation of international law. The EU remains steadfast in its commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and dedicated to fully implementing its non-recognition policy.
Russia of course has further violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity with its unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine which the EU continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms.
It urges Russia to immediately stop its indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to immediately and unconditionally withdraw all its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.
The European Union is unwavering in its commitment to help Ukraine exercise its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression and build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future. It also remains committed to continue bolstering Ukraine’s ability to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Foreign Affairs Council, 20 June 2022 – main results
EU restrictive measures against Russia over Ukraine (since 2014) (background information)
