The European Union is proposing sanctions against several Chinese companies that Brussels believes are helping Russian companies develop drones used in battles in Ukraine, Bloomberg reports. In addition, the European Commission is studying the possibility of imposing restrictions on Russian tankers, the agency writes.
The proposal comes after it was reported that G7 foreign ministers would promise to take “appropriate measures against actors in China and other third countries” for supporting Russia militarily. The ministerial meeting will be held in Italy this week, according to the agency’s draft statement.
According to Bloomberg, the EU has proposed sanctions against a Chinese national who controls a company that violated the bloc’s trade restrictions. A Hong Kong company suspected of supplying microelectronics to Russia and representatives of the DPRK Ministry of Defense will also be blacklisted. South Korean intelligence and American authorities reported that North Korean troops are involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang denied this, but in early November the DPRK Foreign Ministry confirmed the provision of military assistance to Russia, without specifying what type.
Several Chinese companies are already under sanctions from the United States and the United Kingdom. China has repeatedly criticized Western restrictions; The authorities say they do not supply weapons to any of the parties in the conflict and do not participate in any way, but only try to play a “constructive role in promoting a political settlement.”
The Kremlin said that they had nothing to add to the position of the Chinese side, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the data on Beijing’s assistance as disinformation, RBC recalls.
