(Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed on Friday the presentation of the European Union’s 19th sanctions package on Russia, saying the measures would have a significant effect on the Russian economy.
“It targets the main drivers of the war economy: energy revenues, finance, high-tech resources, and the military-industrial base,” Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
“This is an important step that will increase pressure on the Russian war machine and produce a tangible effect.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the package on Friday, saying she wanted to “give peace a real chance” by persuading Russia to come to the negotiation table and end more than 3-1/2 years of conflict.
The top EU diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said the sanctions sought to “strike where Russia gets its money”, including measures to designate 118 new vessels as a shadow fleet and action against Russian financial evasion schemes in third countries.
Member states will now have to discuss the package before adopting it unanimously.
(Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Leslie Adler))
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