International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War

EU leaders on Wednesday weighed a response to suspicions of Russian meddling ahead of June elections in the bloc, with several states pushing for sanctions targeting "malign activities" by Moscow.

Brussels has issued escalating warnings about Russia sowing disinformation ahead of the polls, and seeking to weaken Western support for Ukraine as it fights off Moscow's invasion.

The Kremlin protested the voting of measures in Switzerland on the use of frozen Russian assets to finance repairs in Ukraine

In a bid to bolster enforcement of European Union (EU) sanctions against third countries, the European Parliament has approved stringent measures, making the circumvention and violation of these sanctions a criminal offense punishable by a minimum prison sentence of five years.

In a significant move reflecting shifting dynamics in global oil trade, Turkey's Dortyol terminal, a key Mediterranean oil hub, has announced its decision to cease accepting Russian oil imports. This decision comes in response to mounting pressure from US sanctions and signals a notable departure from Turkey's recent reliance on Russian crude.

The ambassadors representing European Union member states have given their approval for the implementation of the 13th package of sanctions targeting Russia. According to the Belgian presidency, which made the announcement, these sanctions are expected to be among the most comprehensive yet.

"We are not boasting off or anything like that, but as you can see, my answer will continue to be that we will try to defend our position as long as possible. We managed to do that for two years. Whether we will continue to do that - I don't know, but I hope so'', said Vui in an interview with TASS Director General Andrey Kondrashov.

Hungary has withdrawn its objection to the European Union's proposed 13th package of sanctions against Russia, clearing the path for their adoption in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The European Commission issued a stark warning on Friday, anticipating an escalation of Russian military actions in Ukraine leading up to the scheduled presidential elections on March 17. The Commission voiced concern over President Putin's persistent aggression against Ukraine, citing increased bombings around Christmas and New Year as evidence of escalating hostilities.

Cyprus is making an "extremely important" contribution in increasing sanctions pressure on Moscow, said Ukraine's ambassador to the east Mediterranean island, which was long in the spotlight for close business ties with Russia.

Cyprus all but severed those ties when it followed its European Union partners in slapping sanctions on Moscow over the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Nov. 8 offering a way for Russian investors to "swap" their frozen assets abroad with the frozen assets of foreign companies in Russia.

Since the conflict in Ukraine, Western countries have introduced a barrage of sanctions against Moscow, blocking its banks from making international payments and freezing Russian assets abroad.