The European Union has approved a new mechanism of sanctions against Russia for allegedly taking “hybrid activities” and interfering in elections abroad.
According to a resolution of the EU Council, this mechanism is aimed against Russia’s destabilizing actions abroad.
Restrictions will be imposed for interference in elections and “hybrid activities” which undermine the fundamental values of the EU and its Member States, their security, independence and integrity, as well as those of international organizations and third countries.
The sanctions imply creating another blacklist of individuals and legal entities whose assets are subject to blocking in European jurisdictions. Individuals will also be banned from entering the EU.
Decisions on what to consider hybrid actions and interference will be made exclusively by the EU Council on the proposal of EU members or its foreign policy service.
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, issued a separate statement in connection with the approval of the new sanctions mechanism, where he provided a list of “hybrid threats” that Brussels accuses Russia of in relation to EU and NATO countries.
They include cyber-attacks, information manipulation and interference campaigns, cases of arson, vandalism and sabotage, including against our critical infrastructure as well as, instrumentalization of migration and other disruptive actions.
Borrell also believes that Russia continues to disrupt satellite communications, violate European airspace and conduct attacks physical attacks against individuals on the territory of the EU.
The EU sanctions against Russia are record-breaking in scale in history and are in fact an attempt to introduce an economic blockade, in practice ensuring the ever-increasing self-isolation of Europe from Russia and its closest allies.
In total, EU restrictions have targeted about 3,500 individuals and legal entities, including the leadership of Russia and Belarus, as well as representatives of China and a number of other countries.
The EU has almost completely banned its businesses from contacting the Russian Federation, cutting itself off from the Russian market and resources.
EU Seeking Means To Deliver Military Aid To Ukraine
On the EU’s support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian invading forces, Borrell told a news agency that the bloc’s leaders were thinking about how to deliver 6 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine, as Hungary has refused to support the measure.
The EU’s chief diplomat pointed out that all 27 member states must unanimously agree on how to manage the European Peace Support Fund (EPFSF), the mechanism through which EU nations co-finance weapons sent to Ukraine.
“We are racking our brains to try to find a solution to avoid the rather absurd blockage, because we have 6 billion euros that the Member States have provided (…) and we cannot use the funds to support Ukraine’s military efforts because one country is opposed to it.”
Josep Borrell
He insisted that EU leaders were still looking for a “procedure that would make it possible to resolve this situation.”
Yesterday, Borrell stated in an interview that the conflict in Ukraine would end in 15 days without Western support for Kyiv.
“Many want the war to end as soon as possible. If we stop supporting Ukraine, the war will be over in 15 days and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will achieve his goals.
“But do we want that for the Ukrainians and for our own safety, for the Europeans?”
Josep Borrell
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously emphasized that supplying Ukraine with new weapons would not change the situation on the front, but wound rather lead to protracting the conflict.
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