The European Union has passed a new set of sanctions against Russia.
A year after Russia invaded Ukraine, the European Union officially approved a new set of sanctions against 121 individuals and entities on Saturday February 25. The 27 had agreed Friday night on a new package of measures aimed at undermining Russia’s military capabilities and increasing pressure on its economy.
Franceinfo looks back at the highlights of the day on the warfront in Ukraine.
EU adopts 10th package of sanctions against Russia
The European Union announced a new set of sanctions against Russia on Friday, February 24, to mark the anniversary of the offensive. These measures were officially adopted on Saturday. Among the targets are seven Iranian organizations that manufacture demolition drones that Tehran supplies to Moscow. The export of new goods to Russia was also banned. These are goods such as electronics, special vehicles, mechanical parts or spare parts for truck and airplane engines. Finally, the sanctions are aimed at “those responsible for the deportation and forced adoption of at least 6,000 Ukrainian children,” said Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy.
Russia halts oil supplies to Poland
Polish oil giant Orlen has announced that Russia has halted oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline. These deliveries were part of Orlen’s last valid contract with the Russian group Tafnet, which expired at the end of 2024 and covered around 10% of the company’s needs. Orlen assured that this closure will not affect the supply of its Polish customers.
European sanctions against the Wagner Group for their human rights abuses in Africa
The European Union on Saturday announced new sanctions against Russian group Wagner over its “human rights abuses” in the Central African Republic, Sudan and Mali. Eleven people and seven organizations linked to the paramilitary group have been placed on the list of asset freezes and travel bans. The Wagner group itself, which is actively fighting with the Russian army in Ukraine, was sanctioned by the European Union back in 2021.
New rallies in support of Ukraine
About 3,000 people rallied in Paris in support of Ukraine, a day after protests in France and across Europe to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country. Rallies also took place in other major cities in the region on Saturday.
Emmanuel Macron will visit China “early April”.
Emmanuel Macron announced that he would visit China “early April” and called on Beijing to “help put pressure on Russia” to “stop aggression” and “make peace”. “The fact that China is committed to peace efforts is absolutely good,” the French president said the day after China released a document calling for peace talks and a “political solution.”
Emmanuel Macron, speaking on the sidelines of a visit to the agricultural show, declared that this peace is “only possible if it goes through a halt to Russian aggression, a troop withdrawal and respect for territorial sovereignty and the Ukrainian people”.