Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any new sanctions are being imposed on the Russian Federation in the wake of its latest illegal actions in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48892/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The recent actions of the Russian Federation required a strong response from EU countries, which stand united in support of Ukraine. A meeting of EU Foreign Ministers took place in New York in reaction to President Putin’s announcements of a partial mobilisation and nuclear threats, where it was agreed to prepare a new EU sanctions package as soon as possible.

This latest sanctions package introduces important sectoral measures, which extend the existing import and export bans as well as the bans on the provision of services. Significantly, it creates a framework to adopt the oil price cap announced by the G7 countries in September, paving the way for the actual value of the price cap to be set. This aims to impact on the Kremlin’s revenues from oil exports.

Furthermore, the package lists a number of additional persons and entities for sanctions, many linked to the sham referendums organised in occupied territories. To date, over 1,200 individuals have been sanctioned by the EU in relation to the situation in Ukraine, as well as approximately 120 entities. In parallel to introducing new measures, we are constantly working to refine existing sanctions to ensure their effectiveness. This latest sanctions package creates a new listing criterion to sanction those who assist others to circumvent sanctions.

To take account of Russia’s declaration of control of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, the Donetsk and Luhansk Sanctions Regime has also been extended to include these occupied territories also.

Ireland has consistently taken a maximalist approach to the introduction of EU sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. I will continue to call for further pressure to be imposed on Russia through sanctions until a peaceful conclusion of this conflict is in sight.