Europe Increases Pressure on Moscow's Partners: EU Prepares Sanctions Against Chinese Companies
The European Union is preparing sanctions against four Chinese companies suspected of supporting Russia's war against Ukraine.
The European Union is preparing sanctions against four Chinese companies suspected of supporting Russia's war against Ukraine.
According to Politico, which cites documents reviewed by the publication, these companies may be included in a new sanctions list that EU foreign ministers are set to discuss next week. The firms are alleged to assist Russia's "shadow fleet," supply chemicals for the Russian army, and provide components that Moscow uses to produce strike drones.
Politico notes that this move could further escalate tensions between Brussels and Beijing. China has already warned that it will take "resolute countermeasures" in response to new trade restrictions from the EU.
Previously, the European Union had already imposed sanctions against Chinese companies as part of earlier packages of restrictions. The new proposals indicate that Brussels is intensifying pressure on entities that help Russia circumvent sanctions and sustain its military apparatus.
According to Politico, the document with the proposals is dated May 21 and is expected to be part of a so-called "mini-package" of sanctions. It may be approved at the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg on June 15.
Simultaneously, the EU is working on the 21st package of sanctions against Russia, which will have a broader sectoral approach. It is expected that this package may be approved later in the summer.
In addition to the four Chinese companies, the document proposes imposing restrictions against five companies from the United Arab Emirates, three from Turkey, and one from Azerbaijan. They are suspected of facilitating Russian maritime transport and the sale of energy resources.
The list may also include subsidiaries of the Russian company "Lukoil," dozens of individuals, and firms that, according to the EU, support Moscow's war economy.
Separately, EU countries are discussing what to include in the 21st sanctions package. One of the key issues is the price cap on Russian oil. Some states insist on fixing the current level of the price ceiling to prevent Moscow from gaining additional revenue amid rising global oil prices.
China in the Context of the War in Ukraine: Latest News
Earlier, China criticized Japan's decision to send Self-Defense Forces officers to a NATO mission coordinating military assistance to Ukraine.
According to Japanese media, the Japanese government decided to dispatch four officers to a military base in Germany. There, they are expected to familiarize themselves with the programs of assistance to Ukraine being implemented under NATO auspices.
Beijing has expressed concern over Tokyo's actions. The Chinese side believes that Japan is allegedly "promoting remilitarization" and expanding the geography of its military activity.
It was also reported that U.S. President Donald Trump personally urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to help end the war in Ukraine, seeking to leverage Beijing's influence over Moscow.
The Telegraph reported that Russia has sharply increased the production of Shahed-type strike drones, which it uses to attack Ukraine daily. At the same time, China plays a key role in this scaling, as a significant portion of the components for the drones, including microchips that essentially serve as the "brain" of the drone, come from there.