In a significant move, the European Commission has put forth a 12th round of sanctions against Moscow, designed to choke off commercial revenues and address the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Among the 47 individuals targeted are Putin’s cousin, Anna Tsivileva, and Ilya Medvedev, who shares a name and birthdate with Dmitry Medvedev’s son, accused of orchestrating a disinformation campaign in Ukraine.
Commercial Revenues in Focus:
Central to the proposed sanctions is a ban on the sale of Russian rough diamonds and jewelry within the EU, sourced from Siberian mines. This stringent measure aims to deprive Russia of a substantial revenue source, amounting to over €4.5 billion annually.
Diamond Ban Implementation:
The ban on Russian diamonds, initiated by a G7 effort, gained traction after Belgium, home to the global diamond hub Antwerp, withdrew its objections. To ensure traceability and distinguish legal diamonds, a proposal involves assigning a unique identifier to diamonds over a certain size through blockchain records, covering 80-90% of global diamonds.
Additional Sanctions:
The proposed sanctions extend beyond individuals, targeting companies and organizations across various sectors in Russia. Prohibitions include the sale of secondhand tankers to counteract attempts to circumvent existing trade sanctions. Furthermore, the arms industry, IT companies linked to FSB security services, and organizations accused of the “militarization of Ukrainian children” face restrictions.
Belarusian Involvement:
The sanctions also encompass Belarusian officials alleged to be involved in supplying arms to Russia and participating in military cooperation. This includes training Russian army conscripts at bases in Belarus.
Implications and Approval Process:
The inclusion of relatives of senior officials, such as Putin’s family, adds a diplomatic layer to the sanctions, potentially causing tensions with the Kremlin. The proposed measures will be subject to approval by EU leaders at their next summit in December.
This latest effort underscores the EU’s commitment to curbing Russian actions in Ukraine and holds the potential to reshape diplomatic dynamics in the ongoing crisis.
