BRUSSELS (AP) \u2014 The European Union said Monday that it has imposed fresh sanctions on Russia over its\u00a0war against Ukraine, targeting the lucrative diamonds industry, more than 140 officials and organizations, and closing loopholes that Moscow has\u00a0used to bypass\u00a0previous punitive measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s the 12th\u00a0round of sanctions\u00a0and restrictions that the EU has slapped on Russia since\u00a0President Vladimir Putin\u00a0ordered his troops into Ukraine almost two years ago. The measures have targeted the energy sector, banks, companies and markets, and made over 1,000 Russian officials subject to\u00a0asset freezes\u00a0and travel bans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EU headquarters said the latest measures would \u201cdeliver a further blow to Putin\u2019s ability to wage war by targeting high-value sectors of the Russian economy and making it more difficult to circumvent EU sanctions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The import, purchase or transfer of Russian non-industrial\u00a0natural and synthetic diamonds\u00a0and diamond jewelry will be banned starting Jan. 1. The ban applies to diamonds originating in Russia, exported from Russia and transiting through Russia, as well as Russian diamonds processed elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EU estimates the diamond sector to be worth around $4.5 billion each year to Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new round of sanctions also obliges EU companies to prohibit in their contracts the export of certain goods so buyers\u00a0can\u2019t sell them\u00a0on to Russia, particularly \u201csensitive goods and technology\u201d that could be used by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additional chemicals, lithium batteries, thermostats, certain electric motors that could be used in the manufacture of drones, and some machine tools and parts have been put on the EU\u2019s list of restricted items banned for export to Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imports into the EU of some goods that generate significant revenue for Russia also were tightened, including on copper and aluminum wire, foil, quantities of tubes and pipes above a certain limit, and restrictions on liquefied propane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EU also added 29 more \u201centities\u201d \u2013 often organizations, agencies, companies or banks \u2013 alleged to be supporting\u00a0Russia\u2019s military and industrial complex\u00a0in the war against Ukraine. The entities and people whose assets have been frozen were not immediately named.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sanctions were expected to be published in the EU\u2019s official journal shortly, which allows for them to formally enter force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 27 EU countries will now consider imposing sanctions against people who benefit from the seizure of European assets or parts of companies in Russia. The member states will also come under tighter control to ensure they are actively tracing the assets of people targeted for sanctions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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