Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak held a briefing for heads of diplomatic missions of the European Union countries and the EU Delegation to Ukraine on the priority issues of sanctions policy towards Russia.
The main focus was on the need to further strengthen sanctions pressure on the aggressor country in the context of the adoption of the 10th EU sanctions package, which is to be approved on the eve of the anniversary of Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine.
According to Andriy Yermak, in order to prevent this war from dragging on for another year, we need the unity of our partners and the imposition of truly powerful sanctions against Russia. This, in particular, was emphasized by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his recent meetings with European leaders.
"The sanctions regime should be not only maintained, but also strengthened," the Head of the Presidential Office emphasized and added that new sanctions should not be delayed.
"The war has been taking place in the center of Europe for almost a year now. There are concentration camps in the center of Europe, civilians are being killed and raped every day. We know many facts of torture in almost every occupied city. Today, we have an absolute repetition of the horrors of World War II, and this is happening in the center of Europe," he said.
The Head of the President's Office emphasized the following sanctions priorities: extension of sanctions to Russian propagandists; sanctions against banks involved in servicing the military-industrial complex; sanctions against Rosatom; a ban on imports of Russian diamonds; further restrictions on the metallurgy industry; toughening visa restrictions for supporters of the aggressor regime.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko provided the EU ambassadors with an update on the measures taken by our country to implement an effective sanctions policy, as well as on the individuals and legal entities against whom Ukraine has already imposed restrictions.
Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva elaborated on the individual components of the draft sanctions package and noted that the new EU sanctions package should be truly powerful, not symbolic.
Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President Vladyslav Vlasiuk provided additional arguments for including principled decisions on sanctions priorities in the 10th sanctions package and informed about the benefits of constant coordination and cooperation with the EU countries on the sanctions track.
Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President Dariia Zarivna emphasized the importance of imposing sanctions on propagandists, as they openly criticize European values, support the war against Ukraine, and at the same time have the opportunity to travel, participate in events and live in the EU countries.
Andriy Yermak thanked the participants of the meeting, the peoples and governments of their countries for the support that Ukraine has felt this year and called for such briefings on sanctions policy to be held on a regular basis.