How Ukraine’s Trains Kept Running Despite Bombs, Blackouts, and Biden
WiredDec 23, 2022
Day 367: EU Approves 10th Package of Sanctions on Russia
Image copyright: Ukrainian Governmental Press Service/handout [via Al Jazeera]
The Facts
After last-minute haggling, the EU approved a 10th package of sanctions on Russia to coincide with the one-year anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine late on Friday. The sanctions blacklisted further Russian individuals, cut off two additional banks from the SWIFT banking system, and aimed to stifle Russian entities that supported the war effort with technology and equipment.
The measures, which had to be approved by all 27 EU member states, faced initial resistance from Poland — itself an exporter of rubber — after it complained that exemptions on EU imports of Russian rubber were so large that they had no effect in practice. A compromise was ultimately reached, and the sanctions were approved two hours before midnight.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after an election a "coup." This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
Pro-Russia narrative
NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.