Russia responds to new EU sanctions by expanding its blacklist

Russia condemned this Monday the approval by the European Union (EU) of the fourteenth package of sanctions against this country and responded by expanding the blacklist of people who cannot enter the country.

“The EU maintains its policy of confrontation in relation to our country“, indicated the Russian Foreign Ministry in a statement in which it noted that the community bloc “attempts to pressure Russia through unilateral restrictive measures.”

After the foreign ministers of the EU formally approve the fourteenth package for the war in Ukraine, Russian diplomacy attacked the measure, ensuring that these sanctions ““They have absolutely no prospects and only undermine the confidence of the majority of states in the EU.”

“In response to these unfriendly steps, the Russian side considerably expands the list of representatives of the European institutions and EU member countries who (…) are prohibited from entering our country.”, indicated Foreign Affairs.

Without offering a list of those sanctioned, Russian diplomacy explained that it is “representatives of the Armed Forces and security bodies, state institutions and the business community responsible for offering military aid to the kyiv regime”.

In addition, the list was expanded with employees of the European institutions and state bodies of EU countries responsible for pursuing Russian officials for alleged illegal arrests and kidnappings of people from Ukrainian territory.

It will also include Europeans charged with creating a “special court” against the Russian leaders, those who advocate confiscating Russian assets or using the profits in the interests of the kyiv regime.

In particular, Russia’s doors will be closed to those responsible for imposing sanctions against the country and to those who ““They try to undermine their relations with other States.”

Civil activists and scientists who have stood out for their anti-Russian rhetoric will not be exempt.

The blacklist will also include representatives of the Council of Europe, EU parliamentarians and those “national delegates of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe who systematically attack Russia.”

“Russia confirms that any unfriendly action by Western countries will be left without an adequate response”, concluded Foreign Affairs.

The fourteenth round of sanctions includes restrictive measures against 69 individuals and 47 entities responsible for actions that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, as well as sectoral sanctions.

In addition, the EU has prohibited refueling services for Russian liquefied natural gas that will be transshipped to third countries in community territory, in order to reduce the “important” income that Russia obtains from the sale and transportation of that gas.

The new package also further prohibits the use of the Financial Message Transfer System (SPFS), a specialized financial messaging service developed by the Central Bank of Russia to neutralize the effect of restrictive measures such as the disconnection of the SWIFT system.