Overview
- China’s commerce ministry condemned the EU move, demanded the removal of Chinese companies from the list, and warned the EU would bear the consequences.
- The EU’s 20th sanctions package expands measures against Russia by cutting 20 more Russian banks off from euro transactions and business in the bloc.
- EU officials widened enforcement to companies in third countries, including China-based suppliers, to choke off back channels that support Russia’s war economy.
- The package cleared after Hungary and Slovakia dropped their vetoes following a dispute over the Druzhba oil pipeline that moves Russian crude to Central Europe.
- There has been no EU reversal so far, and France’s Emmanuel Macron said Europe faces pressure from the United States, China, and Russia as it seeks to defend its own interests.