EU sanctions on Russia are working and must be further strengthened - Braze

RIGA - The Russian economy is the weak point of its leader Vladimir Putin's regime, which is why the European Union (EU) must continue the sanctions pressure on the energy and gas sectors, which are the main source of funding for Russia, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze (New Unity) told the EU Foreign Affairs Council today.

As LETA was told at the Foreign Ministry, EU foreign ministers today approved the 15th round of sanctions on Russia, adding to the sanctions list 52 tankers of Russia's "shadow fleet", with 11 of these vessels added at Latvia's proposal.

Oil and gas, which Russia exports using its "shadow fleet", is still its main source of income. Since many of the tankers have grown obsolete and are uninsured, their use poses significant environmental risks, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The 15th round of sanctions also target 84 individuals and companies involved in increasing Russia's military and technological capacity or developing Russia's defense and security sector.

Additionally, the EU Foreign Affairs Council imposed individual sanctions on 16 individuals and three legal entities involved in Russia's hybrid activities. The EU ministers also approved sanctions against Belarus' regime. These sanctions target 26 individuals and two legal entities.

The next round of sanctions is expected to be adopted in the first quarter of next year. The Latvian foreign minister called on the EU to continue the sanctions pressure on the energy and gas sectors, which are the main source of funding for Russia. She also urged to stop "any transfer of technological solutions that Russia uses in its war of aggression against Ukraine", as well as restrictions on Russia's access to global communications with third countries.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who addressed the EU ministers by video link, informed on the current situation and Ukraine's most urgent military needs, including air defense systems to protect nuclear power plants.

"Military support is needed today, because tomorrow may be too late", Sybiha stressed, adding that "Russia is not as strong as it looks".

Braze agreed that military support is "critical" to ensure that Ukraine's positions on the battlefield are as good as possible. "This is the only way to put Ukraine in a stronger position for possible peace negotiations", she believes.

As regards Georgia, an agreement was reached on the reintroduction of the Schengen visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and service passports. In her speech, Braze also confirmed Latvia's support for Georgia's people who want Georgia to integrate into the EU. Latvia will also continue to support sanctions on representatives of the Georgian government.

On the situation in the Middle East, the ministers noted that the fall of Assad's brutal regime is an opportunity for stability and security for Syria and the region as a whole, as well as for the fundamental rights of the people.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the early statements and commitment to preserving governance structures by representatives of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), which has come to power in Syria, should be viewed with "cautious optimism".