Tsahkna: EU to Approve Sanctions on 1,600 Individuals and Entities Tied to Russia's Defense Industry

The European Union (EU) is set to approve sanctions on Monday, 12 October, against 1,600 individuals and legal entities connected to Russia's military-industrial complex, meaning the sector that produces weapons and other goods for war. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, of the Eesti 200 party, announced this on Saturday. The measures form part of Western pressure on Russia, which continues its war against Ukraine.

The minister's reasoning

Tsahkna said that increasing pressure on Russia and depriving it of the means to wage war are necessary to achieve a just peace and ensure Europe's long-term security. In a social media post, he wrote that in recent weeks civilians, including children, had been killed in their beds and on buses as Russian attacks on Ukraine grew more brutal.

He stressed that Europe will keep imposing sanctions, cutting Russia's revenue from energy sales and taking action against Russia's "shadow fleet". Estonia also supports using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine.

Call for more support to Ukraine

The head of Estonia's foreign ministry urged greater support for Ukraine so that it can defend its people, independence and sovereignty.

The new sanctions are expected to be endorsed on Monday at a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg.