Approval was given by EU countries' ambassadors early on Wednesday morning, reports diplomatic sources. Formally, the package is expected to be approved by the countries' foreign ministers at their meeting in Brussels next Tuesday.
The package has been underway and is not linked to the warnings of even harsher sanctions if Russia does not agree to a 30-day ceasefire.
"We are further limiting access to technology on the battlefield. And we have listed an additional 189 shadow vessels to hit Russia's energy exports. The war must end", writes EU chief von der Leyen on X.
Package 17 includes, among other things, sanctions against an additional 30 companies in various countries accused of helping to circumvent previous sanctions, as well as an additional 75 individuals, companies or organizations linked to Russia's military industry.
The EU countries are simultaneously replenishing several of their other sanctions packages related to Russia, including human rights violations, chemical weapons, and hybrid attacks.
