Brussels - (AFP) - The European Union imposed new trade restrictions on Russia and expanded the list of people targeted by asset freezes and travel bans to the European Union, as part of an eighth package of sanctions against Moscow that took effect Thursday.

These new measures, which were published in the Official Journal of the European Union, are "a response to Russia's escalation in the illegal war that it continues to wage against Ukraine and is manifested in particular by annexing Ukrainian lands after + fake referendums + mobilizing additional forces and threatening to use nuclear weapons," she said. European Commission.

The sanctions also pave the way for the introduction of a cap on Russian oil prices agreed by the Group of Seven, and for a ban on European citizens from taking positions on the management bodies of some Russian state-owned companies.

The eighth batch of European sanctions since the start of the war launched by Moscow on Ukraine on February 24, imposes a new import ban worth seven billion euros to reduce Russia's revenues.

In particular, they include a ban on imports of iron and steel products, machinery and hardware, plastics, vehicles, textiles, shoes, leather, ceramics, some chemicals, and non-gold jewelry.

The new export restrictions aim to limit Russia's ability to develop its defense and security sector. It relates in particular to “the ban on the export of coal, including coke (used in Russian industrial sites), certain electronic components (found in Russian weapons), technical materials used in the aviation sector, as well as some chemical products,” as stated by the European Commission.

A ban on the export of small-caliber weapons is also planned.

In addition, thirty individuals and seven entities have been added to a blacklist of more than 1,300 names subject to an asset freeze and travel ban to the European Union.

The persons and entities added to the list are "involved in the Russian occupation, illegal annexation and + bogus referenda + in the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions".

Among them are military personnel and senior officials, as well as companies supporting the Russian armed forces.

Bans on crypto assets have been tightened, expanding the range of services that can no longer be provided to the Russian government.
He said that the ban imposed by the European Union on imports of Russian crude oil by sea is still in place.

The commission said that "setting price ceilings, once implemented, will allow European operators to transfer Russian oil to third countries, provided that the latter's price remains below the previously set ceiling."

And she explained that the procedure, in coordination with the G7 partners, “will become effective after December 5, 2022 for crude oil and February 5, 2023 for refined petroleum products, after a new decision of the Council” (member states).