EU extends Ukraine sanctions

The EU Council has extended sanctions for ‘actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine’ until 15 March 2019 (EU Official Journal, 14 September). The measures – asset freezes and travel restrictions – currently affect 155 individuals and 44 entities.

The sanctions are part of a package of EU measures imposed in response to the 2014 annexation of the Crimea peninsula by Russia and its efforts to ‘undermine’ the political stability of the region. Sanctions are in place targeting the financial, energy and defence sectors of the Russian economy, including dual-use goods, until 31 January 2019. EU companies or EU-based individuals are also prohibited from doing business in Crimea and Sevastopol, including imports from Crimea or Sevastopol; the export of certain goods and technologies to Crimea or Sevastopol; investment and financing; tourism services and the provision of technical assistance, brokering or engineering services related to infrastructure. The measures focused on Crimea and Sevastopol are in place until 23 June 2019.

The EU press release can be found here:
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/09/13/eu-prolongs-sanctions-over-actions-against-ukraine-s-territorial-integrity-until-15-march-2019/pdf