Brussels, March 15 : The European on on Tuesday decided to impose a fourth package of economic and individual sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. “Following up on the informal meeting of the EU heads of state and government on March 10-11, the Council decided to impose a fourth package of economic and individual sanctions in respect of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine,” it said. “As President Putin’s war against Ukrainian people continues, so does our resolve to support Ukraine and cripple the financing of Kremlin’s war machinery. This fourth package of sanctions is another major blow to the economic and logistic base upon which Russia relies on to carry out the invasion of Ukraine,” said Josep Borrell, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. “The aim of the sanctions is that President Putin stops this inhuman and senseless war,” Borrell said. The Council decided to prohibit all transactions with certain state-owned enterprises, credit rating services as well as access to any subscription services in relation to credit rating activities to any Russian person or entity. It also decided to expand the list of persons connected to Russia’s defence and industrial base on whom tighter export restrictions were imposed regarding dual-use goods and goods and technology which might contribute to Russia’s technological enhancement of its defence and security sector. Also announced was a prohibition on new investments in the Russian energy sector and to introduce a comprehensive export restriction on equipment, technology and services for the energy industry and more trade restrictions concerning iron and steel as well as luxury goods. The Council also decided to sanction key oligarchs, lobbyists and propagandists as well as key companies in the aviation, military and dual use, shipbuilding and machine building sectors. Welcoming the sanctions, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “This will further cripple Putin’s ability to finance this unjustified war. “The EU and its partners will keep up the pressure on the Kremlin until it stops the invasion of Ukraine,” she added. VP MR