EU implements first sanctions package against Russia – further sanctions announced

The inclusion of 378 additional individuals and organizations on the EU sanctions lists already represents a considerable risk: The ban on providing goods or services to those persons also relates to the indirect provision of economic resources, i.e., the supply of goods or services to non-listed companies that are under the direct or indirect control of the persons named on the EU sanctions lists is not permitted.

The sale to persons from the Luhansk and Donetsk regions or the intended delivery to those regions has been placed under an export control ban; consequently, even the initiation of a contract may be considered an attempted export control violation and thus a criminal offense. Prior to commencing or continuing any contractual activity, companies should carefully check whether the intended contract’s outcome would still be permissible under the new export control legislation.

Total embargo against Russia and Belarus cannot be ruled out

Due to Russian military activities on Thursday morning, an expansion and tightening of sanctions can be expected in the short term. According to media reports, very harsh and severe sanctions are to be expected which, in our opinion, do not exclude a total embargo against Russia and Belarus.

The USA has also tightened its sanctions against Russia. The US sanctions imposed by President Biden on February 22 initially affected only US persons, i.e., US citizens, companies domiciled in the US, persons with their habitual abode in the US, or even green card holders. Further US sanctions are very likely and could also be imposed with extraterritorial effect. The US has understood many of its sanction measures in the past, for example, against Iran, to be extraterritorial. This means these sanctions would apply not only to US persons, but to all persons and goods with a US connection. German and European companies would also be affected. We therefore recommend that all companies also monitor and take into account developments in the US.

In the meantime, the first EU sanctions package has been published in the Official Journal and comprises, inter alia, the following measures:

• 351 members of the Russian Parliament who support the recognition of the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics were included in the EU sanctions lists.
• Another 27 individuals and organizations which have significantly contributed to undermining the sovereignty and independence of the Ukrainians’ territorial integrity were also included in the EU sanctions lists.
• Assets of the persons and entities designated in the EU sanctions lists will be frozen and a ban has been imposed on providing these persons or organizations with economic resources.
• The Council also decided to introduce a sectoral ban on financing the Russian Federation, its government and its central banks. To this end, access to capital and financial markets and services will be restricted.
• Listed persons are subject to a travel ban, i.e., neither entry into nor transit through the EU is permitted.
• A ban on imports of all goods from the non-government-controlled areas of the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts has been imposed. The regulation provides for a clause for existing contracts; however, such clause’s applicability should be carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• Further, a far-reaching ban on exports to the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts was adopted. This affects goods and technologies listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2022/263.
• Likewise, there are further trade and investment restrictions, including a ban on infrastructure projects in this region and on the provision of tourism services.