The European Union approved sweeping new sanctions on Wednesday against Belarus as it supports Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions target military personnel and other Belarusian officials whom the EU alleged helped Russia’s invasion, a tweet from the French presidency of the EU said, adding that they focus on “certain sectors of the Belarusian economy, in particular the wood, steel and potash sectors.” (RELATED: ‘Violent Gesture’: Russia Begins Military Drills With Belarus Near Ukrainian Border)
🔴#Ukraine | COREPER II just approved new sanctions against :
📌Belarusian officials and military involved in the Russian aggression against Ukraine ⤵️ 1/2 #EU2022FR pic.twitter.com/7bxfWbwEUA
— Présidence française du Conseil de l’UE 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@Europe2022FR) March 2, 2022
📌Certain sectors of the Belarusian economy, in particular the wood, steel and potash sectors.
These measures will be published in the Official Journal of the EU for entry into force. 2/2 #EU2022FR
— Présidence française du Conseil de l’UE 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@Europe2022FR) March 2, 2022
The EU also sanctioned Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a strongman who has sought to tie his country closer to Vladimir Putin. (RELATED: Ukraine To Its Citizens In Kyiv: Use Molotov Cocktails To ‘Neutralise’ Russian Troops)
“Lukashenko’s regime is complicit in this vicious attack against Ukraine. So we will hit Lukashenko’s regime with a new package of sanctions,” EU President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement Sunday, adding that they target “exports of products from mineral fuels to tobacco, wood and timber, cement, iron and steel.”
The sanctions came after Ukrainians alleged that some Russian troops invaded the country via Belarus, which lies to its north and Russia’s west. That prompted sanctions from the United States, which went so far as to close its embassy in the country as well.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.