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Anti-Russian sanctions

EU approves 12th package of anti-Russian sanctions

The EU in particular "is imposing a prohibition on the direct or indirect import, purchase or transfer of diamonds from Russia"

© Adrien Fillon/ Hans Lucas via Reuters Connect

BRUSSELS, December 18. /TASS/. The European Union approved the twelfth package of anti-Russian sanctions due to the special military operation in Ukraine, the EU Council’s press service informs.

"The Council adopted today a twelfth package of economic and individual restrictive measures," the EU Council said in its statement. New restrictive measures against Russia are "targeting high-value sectors of the Russian economy and making it more difficult to circumvent EU sanctions," it said.

The EU in particular "is imposing a prohibition on the direct or indirect import, purchase or transfer of diamonds from Russia. This prohibition applies to diamonds originating in Russia, diamonds exported from Russia, diamonds transiting Russia and Russian diamonds when processed in third countries," the press service informed.

A direct ban will apply "to non-industrial natural and synthetic diamonds as well as diamond jewellery" from January 1 of the next year. An indirect import ban of Russian diamonds that are cut and polished in third countries will be introduced in phases from March 1 until September 1 of the next year.

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Sanctions vs. Russia EU

Middle East conflict

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Tehran to retaliate against anti-Iran resolutions at IAEA — official

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Lavrov likens proposals to freeze Ukraine crisis to worse version of Minsk agreements

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Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

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Chancellor Scholz opposes assistance to Ukraine at expense of Germany’s future

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Russian forces gain foothold near Kupyansk as Kiev begins to retreat

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Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 450 troops, two tanks, three IFVs, two M113 armored personnel carriers, 33 armored combat vehicles, five artillery pieces, including a Krab self-propelled howitzer, a Crotale multiple rocket launcher, and 49 motor vehicles