The European Union's Belgian presidency announced on social media site X that the EU had approved its 13th set of sanctions on Russia on Wednesday, reiterating earlier information Reuters had received from sources.&nbsp;

The Belgian presidency announced that "EU ambassadors have reached a principle agreement on the 13th package of sanctions in the context of Russia's aggression against Ukraine," referring to it as "one of the biggest adopted by the EU."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-eu-official-claims-russia-is-now-at-war-with-nato-and-the-west-556543">EU official says ‘Russia has changed ‘special operation’ into war with NATO and West’</a>

There won't be any new sectoral measures in the new package, but almost all&nbsp;businesses and individuals will be added to the list. On February 24, the second anniversary of the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the package will be formally authorised.

The listings primarily target entities and individuals affiliated with Russia's military industrial complex, as well as those implicated in the trafficking and abduction of Ukrainian children. Additionally, a North Korean and a Belarusian firm have been included in the listings.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/ukraine-war-eu-mulling-fresh-sanctions-on-russia-653818" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/ukraine-war-eu-mulling-fresh-sanctions-on-russia-653818&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjIl6z-sbyEAxVnTWwGHd6RBZsQFnoECAQQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw0dyo9ElHExf9VFYsVw18YM" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/ukraine-war-eu-mulling-fresh-sanctions-on-russia-653818" target="_blank">Ukraine War:&nbsp;EU&nbsp;mulling fresh sanctions on&nbsp;Russia</a>

In March of the previous year, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court asserted that Russia had relocated "at least hundreds" of children from orphanages and care facilities in occupied Ukrainian regions, with "many" being put up for adoption. The ICC indicted officials, including President Vladimir Putin, for the abduction of Ukrainian children, classifying it as a war crime. Moscow denies any wrongdoing, contending that it has taken in children from the war zone to ensure their safety. Ukraine asserts that over 4,000 children have been taken by Russia.

The new measures also target the procurement network supporting Russia's military, particularly the supply chain involved in drone manufacturing. Twenty-seven companies, predominantly Russian, along with three mainland Chinese firms and one Hong Kong-based company, have been added to Annex IV, barring European firms from selling dual-use goods to them.

Watch:&nbsp;Fresh EU sanctions on Russia

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The official approval of these measures is scheduled to coincide with the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the need to continue undermining Putin's war machine, stating, "We are also further cutting Russia’s access to drones."

Ambassadors have extended the current sanctions regime, which lists approximately 2,000 individuals and companies, for an additional six months.

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Union's Belgian presidency announced on social media site X that the EU had approved its 13th set of sanctions on Russia on Wednesday, reiterating earlier information Reuters had received from sources.

The European Union's Belgian presidency announced on social media site X that the EU had approved its 13th set of sanctions on Russia on Wednesday, reiterating earlier information Reuters had received from sources. The Belgian presidency announced that "EU ambassadors have reached a principle agreement on the 13th package of sanctions in the context of Russia's aggression against Ukraine," referring to it as "one of the biggest adopted by the EU." Also read: EU official says ‘Russia has changed ‘special operation’ into war with NATO and West’ There won't be any new sectoral measures in the new package, but almost all businesses and individuals will be added to the list. On February 24, the second anniversary of the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the package will be formally authorised. The listings primarily target entities and individuals affiliated with Russia's military industrial complex, as well as those implicated in the trafficking and abduction of Ukrainian children. Additionally, a North Korean and a Belarusian firm have been included in the listings. Also read: Ukraine War: EU mulling fresh sanctions on Russia In March of the previous year, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court asserted that Russia had relocated "at least hundreds" of children from orphanages and care facilities in occupied Ukrainian regions, with "many" being put up for adoption. The ICC indicted officials, including President Vladimir Putin, for the abduction of Ukrainian children, classifying it as a war crime. Moscow denies any wrongdoing, contending that it has taken in children from the war zone to ensure their safety. Ukraine asserts that over 4,000 children have been taken by Russia. The new measures also target the procurement network supporting Russia's military, particularly the supply chain involved in drone manufacturing. Twenty-seven companies, predominantly Russian, along with three mainland Chinese firms and one Hong Kong-based company, have been added to Annex IV, barring European firms from selling dual-use goods to them. Watch: Fresh EU sanctions on Russia × The official approval of these measures is scheduled to coincide with the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the need to continue undermining Putin's war machine, stating, "We are also further cutting Russia’s access to drones." Ambassadors have extended the current sanctions regime, which lists approximately 2,000 individuals and companies, for an additional six months. (With inputs from agencies)

European Union gives green light to its 13th sanctions package targeting Russia

European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to extend the bloc`s main economic&nbsp;sanctions against Russia over the turmoil in Ukraine for six months until mid-2017, diplomats said.&nbsp;

The decision was expected and the formal process to extend the sanctions on Russia`s defence, energy&nbsp;and financial sectors will take place early next week, they said.

&quot;We welcome unanimous decision by the EU to extend economic and sectoral sanctions against Russia,&quot;&nbsp;Ukraine`s president, Petro Poroshenko, said in a statement.

&quot;I am sincerely grateful for unwavering unity and solidarity of the European leaders in restoring&nbsp;Ukraine`s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Crimea.&quot;&nbsp;

The bloc slapped sanctions on Russia after it annexed Ukraine`s Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from&nbsp;Ukraine in 2014 and stepped them up as Moscow went on to support a separatist rebellion in Ukraine`s&nbsp;industrial east.&nbsp;

The conflict is not resolved and has killed nearly 10,000 people.&nbsp;

The decision was also meant as a signal to US&nbsp;President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on&nbsp;January&nbsp;20 and has worried the EU with his promises to seek a rapprochement with Russia.&nbsp;

&quot;It would send a very bad signal vis-a-vis Trump if we shied away from this extension, or prolonged&nbsp;them by a shorter period of time,&quot; a senior EU official said.

Poland was among the EU states that wanted a longer extension of the sanctions, but Italy has been a&nbsp;leading voice in the bloc in calling for re-establishing business ties with Moscow.&nbsp;

Despite threats in October by some EU leaders, the bloc has shied away from slapping new sanctions&nbsp;on Russia over the conflict in Syria.

In a separate decision on Thursday, EU leaders agreed to spell out limits to a landmark cooperation&nbsp;accord with Ukraine in order to address Dutch concerns and prevent the deal from falling through.

(AFP)

EU leaders agreed to extend for another six months damaging economic sanctions imposed on Russia for its role in the Ukraine crisis

European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to extend the bloc`s main economic sanctions against Russia over the turmoil in Ukraine for six months until mid-2017, diplomats said. The decision was expected and the formal process to extend the sanctions on Russia`s defence, energy and financial sectors will take place early next week, they said. "We welcome unanimous decision by the EU to extend economic and sectoral sanctions against Russia," Ukraine`s president, Petro Poroshenko, said in a statement. "I am sincerely grateful for unwavering unity and solidarity of the European leaders in restoring Ukraine`s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Crimea." The bloc slapped sanctions on Russia after it annexed Ukraine`s Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and stepped them up as Moscow went on to support a separatist rebellion in Ukraine`s industrial east. The conflict is not resolved and has killed nearly 10,000 people. The decision was also meant as a signal to US President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20 and has worried the EU with his promises to seek a rapprochement with Russia. "It would send a very bad signal vis-a-vis Trump if we shied away from this extension, or prolonged them by a shorter period of time," a senior EU official said. Poland was among the EU states that wanted a longer extension of the sanctions, but Italy has been a leading voice in the bloc in calling for re-establishing business ties with Moscow. Despite threats in October by some EU leaders, the bloc has shied away from slapping new sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Syria. In a separate decision on Thursday, EU leaders agreed to spell out limits to a landmark cooperation accord with Ukraine in order to address Dutch concerns and prevent the deal from falling through. (AFP)

EU agrees to extend sanctions against Russia until mid-2017

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European Union gives green light to its 13th sanctions package targeting Russia

EU agrees to extend sanctions against Russia until mid-2017