EU extends sanctions against Russia for another year over seizure of Ukrainian territories
EU sanctions against Russia will be in effect until February 24, 2024 (Photo:Olga Nayda/Unsplash)
The European Union has extended sanctions against Russia for another year, i.e. until Feb. 24, 2024, over the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories, according to an EU Council decision on Feb. 20.
As noted in the decision, the relevant restrictive measures were imposed in response to the illegal recognition, occupation, or annexation by the Russian Federation of certain non-government controlled areas of Ukraine.
In October 2022, the European Union expanded sanctions over the illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhya oblasts by the Russian Federation.
“The Union remains unwavering in its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and dedicated to the full implementation of the non-recognition policy in respect of Russia’s illegal annexation,” reads the report.
“The Union does not recognize and continues to condemn the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories by the Russian Federation as a violation of international law.”
The decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, i.e. on Feb. 23.
Russian invasion forces staged sham referendums in the temporarily occupied parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya oblasts from Sept. 23 to Sept. 27, 2022.
None of these regions is fully controlled by Russia, while the entire right bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, including the city of Kherson, was liberated by the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the counter-offensive in November.
Ukraine and most Western countries have declared that they would not recognize the results of sham referendums.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that any Russian criminal actions would have no impact on Ukraine.
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