Putin's inner circle targeted by new EU sanctions
The European Union has approved sanctions against key members of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle, including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Putin's chief of staff Anton Vaino, as well as a number of other figures involved in Russian politics and media.
Sanctions have been approved against a total of 555 individuals and 52 entities in response to "violations of Ukraine's territorial integrity," according to a press release from the European Council. This comes after Putin on Monday recognized two breakaway territories in eastern Ukraine, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, as independent.
The sanctions approved by the EU on Wednesday will also include all 351 members of the lower house of Russia's national legislature, who the release noted voted in favor of Putin recognizing the two territories as independent.
"Such decisions are illegal and unacceptable. They violate international law, Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, Russia's own international commitments and further escalate the crisis," High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borell said of Putin's move in a statement.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/putin-s-inner-circle-targeted-by-new-eu-sanctions/ar-AAUdepz
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