It seems that the batch of Western sanctions that will be officially approved by the European Union today, Wednesday, will include Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, according to what Western diplomats confirmed.
They also made it clear that the sanctions will also affect the Russian Internet Research Agency, which was previously sanctioned by the Americans over allegations of fueling divisions during the 2016 US elections, according to what the Wall Street Journal reported today, quoting informed sources.
Coming into force soon
And the French Minister of State for European Affairs had announced earlier, today, Wednesday, that the package of sanctions he had adopted European Union Against Russia, after Moscow recognized the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, will enter into force this evening or tomorrow, Thursday.
Clement Bonn explained to France Inter radio that very fast reactions came during the past hours from the Europeans, in coordination with the Americans and the British. “These sanctions will come into effect this evening, most likely, or tomorrow at the latest,” he said.
Russian tanks (AFP)
first package
It is noteworthy that the first package of sanctions, which was talked about yesterday by the Union’s foreign policy official, Josep Borrell, targets the Russian deputies, who voted in favor of recognizing the independence of the separatists, and includes economic measures against Russian banks as well.
These sanctions come after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, and the entry of forces he described as peacekeeping forces to Lugansk and Donetsk.
It is noteworthy that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict had started since last October (2021), due to the Russian military build-up on the border, but it took a more escalating turn during the past two days with the Russian entry into eastern Ukraine, which ended the peace agreements that were sponsoring the situation between the two parties (Minsk). .