Deal is 18th such package since Ukraine invasion as Ursula von der Leyen says EU is ‘striking the heart of Russia’s war machine’

It has taken a bit longer than they would have wanted, but the 18th EU package of sanctions is here , after Slovakia dropped its opposition to its adoption last night.

The Slovak prime minister, Robert Fico , said late Thursday that he received additional guarantees from the EU on the technically unrelated, but politically linked, issue of gas imports from Russia and was now prepared to support the package.

“We’re cutting the Kremlin’s war budget further, going after 105 more shadow fleet ships, their enablers, and limiting Russian banks’ access to funding.

Nord Stream pipelines will be banned. A lower oil price cap. We are putting more pressure on Russia’s military industry, Chinese banks that enables sanctions evasion, and blocking tech exports used in drones.

“We are striking at the heart of Russia’s war machine.

Targeting its banking, energy and military-industrial sectors and including a new dynamic oil price cap.