Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the leaders of the Russian Air Force and Black Sea Fleet, Russian oligarchs, as well as the 351 members of the Duma who gave the green light to Putin are expected to be targeted. European sanctions to be announced later today.
The measures, which must be signed by them EU Foreign Ministerswill be more advanced than what the US and Boris Johnson announced.
If passed, EU sanctions would freeze assets and ban travel to 23 people, three banks and a notorious “internet troll factory” in St. Petersburg.
The EU is expected to impose sanctions on all 351 members of the Russian Duma who voted in favor of recognizing the two independent democracies.
In addition, the Russian government will face more constraints on its ability to borrow from EU financial markets.
European officials are planning measures to ban trade with the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
“Everyone seems to be involved in the adoption of sanctions,” said a European diplomat.
European capitals must send their comments in the next few hours. The foreign ministers are expected to approve the sanctions at 3 p.m. CET.
At the top of the sanctions list is Soigu, who is “ultimately responsible for any military action against Ukraine,” according to a draft released to the Guardian.
With him is Putin’s chief of staff, who “plays an active role in decision-making,” the commander-in-chief of the Black Sea Fleet, and the commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force.
The list also includes Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Bank VTB Dmitry Grigorenko, and Igor Suvalov, Chairman of the State Bank VEB, which plays a key role in financing its defense sector.
The EU is also targeting Russian “propagandists”, including Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova and RT chief Margarita Simonyan, both of whom are known for their strong anti-Western rhetoric.
The list also includes Vladimir Solovyov, a presenter for the pro-Kremlin Russia One channel.
Gevgeny Prigogine is also in the spotlight. Known as Putin’s chef, Prigogine funds the Internet Research Service (IRA), which has also been added to the EU sanctions list.
The St. Petersburg-based IRA is better known as the “troll factory,” where trolls work around the clock to flood the Internet with pro-Putin views.
The targeted banks are Bank Rossiya, believed to be the personal bank of Putin and many of his officials, Promsvyazbank and Vnesheconombank.
The latter two are believed by EU officials to have received instructions from the Russian president to finance Russia’s defense sector.
EU leaders have indicated they may face more sanctions in the coming days.
“Expect some more discussions on the broader sanctions package for the big bang later this week,” the EU official said.
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