Russia criticizes new EU sanctions following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine

The European Union has adopted its 13th package of sanctions against Russia in connection with the invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022. The measure was approved after Slovakia and Hungary withdrew their objections following the restoration of oil flow through the Druzhba pipeline, which runs across Ukrainian territory. Initially, Brussels aimed to implement the package by the second anniversary of the invasion on February 24th. In response, the Russian delegation to the EU issued a statement labeling the sanctions illegitimate. Russian diplomats argued that only measures authorized by the UN Security Council are lawful under international law. Furthermore, Moscow accused the EU of engaging in economic coercion by restricting Russian exports to third-party countries that maintain cooperation with Russia. Russian officials characterized the EU's extraterritorial application of these restrictions as an arbitrary violation of the UN Charter.