DISINFO: Sanctions are part of the hybrid war against Russia.
SUMMARY
Sanctions are part of the hybrid economic, cultural, political and military war against Russia.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about an aggressive West destabilising Russia, being directly involved in Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine on the Ukrainian side, aiming to portray Russia as a victim and deflect any responsibility for Moscow’s illicit actions in Ukraine.
Sanctions are a key tool of EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy.
The EU sanctions are legitimate restrictions imposed in accordance with international and European law as a response to violations of international legalities, such as Russia’s actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. The EU established the sanctions regime under its laws, specifically Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, "concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine."
The EU has the right to impose economic sanctions within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. Crucially, any such measures must strictly conform to European and international law. Other international actors have the right to impose them under international law as well under certain conditions.
Through restrictive measures, the EU intervenes where appropriate to respond to emerging or current crises. EU sanctions are carefully targeted and designed to be proportionate to the objectives they seek to achieve. Moscow has falsely claimed that the EU sanctions are illegal ever since their imposition in 2014, following Russia's invasion, annexation, and ongoing occupation of Crimea.
Neither the European Union nor Western countries have declared war on Russia. The West supports Ukraine with military and financial aid for the country’s efficient self-defence, in accordance with the UN Charter Article 51, to stop Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
The EU has imposed unprecedented sanctions against Russia in response to the unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 and the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Furthermore, in December 2022, EU countries agreed to set a price cap on Russian oil at $60 per barrel. The price cap applies to oils which originate in or are exported from Russia. The cap comes on top of the EU import ban on Russian seaborne crude oil and petroleum products, and the corresponding bans of other G7 partners.
The EU adopted so far nine sanction packages against Russia due to its illegal aggression and occupation of Ukrainian territories. The EU is preparing a 10th package of sanctions, which will focus on technology that may be used by Russia’s military and reducing sanctions circumvention.
See the EU's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine here along with EU vs Disinfo's Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War.
See similar cases that the EU has declared war on Russia and Belarus; Russia is at war with NATO, not Ukraine; Russia is at war with NATO and the Pentagon; NATO is at war with Russia with the hands of Ukrainians.