Foreign Ministry announced Russia’s response to the next package of EU sanctions

Russia has expanded the list of representatives of European institutions and EU member states who are banned from entering Russia, transmits press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“We are talking about the leadership of the law enforcement agencies of the EU countries involved in the preparation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the EU mission to provide military assistance to Ukraine, European government and commercial structures that produce and supply weapons and military equipment to the Kyiv regime, as well as citizens of the EU states seen in a systematic public anti-Russian rhetoric,” the statement said.

The press service clarified that this is a response to the sanctions imposed by the EU as part of the ninth package on December 16, 2022, as well as to the resolution recognizing Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism.”

The ninth package of sanctions included new restrictions on Russian banks, exports of dual-use goods and technologies, as well as a ban on investments in the energy and mining sectors of the Russian Federation. An exception was made only for the extraction of minerals critical to the EU.

On November 23, the European Parliament adopted a resolution recognizing Russia as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism”. The document, which is advisory in nature and has no legal force, was supported by 494 MEPs, 58 voted against, and 44 abstained. Russia in the document is accused of “delivering strikes on Ukraine in violation of international law.”