On June 20, 2022, the EU Council decided to renew sanctions that were first introduced by the Council in June of 2014 in response to the Russian Federation’s illegal annexation of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. The Council extended the sanctions by one year, until June 23, 2023. Crimea-related sanctions include prohibitions on the import of products originating from Crimea or Sevastopol into the EU, restrictions on infrastructural or financial investments, and bans on tourism services from Crimea or Sevastopol. There are also restrictions on the export of certain goods or technology from the EU to companies involved in Crimea’s transport, telecommunications and energy sectors or connected with the prospection, exploration and production of oil, gas and mineral resources.
The EU also emphasizes that it does not recognize the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol and continues to condemn the illegal annexation. The EU also strongly condemns Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine that has further violated the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and is committed to helping Ukraine as it exercises it right to defend itself against this Russian aggression.