"For the first time, we are proposing a ban on travel to the EU for anyone who has been active in the Russian armed forces since the start of the war," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference in Brussels.
The measure has long been requested by the Baltic countries, recently also with support from Sweden.
30 ships
The sanctions package also lists an additional 30 vessels in Russia's so-called shadow fleet, ships that are believed to be used to circumvent sanctions against Russian oil exports, in addition to the 632 that are already subject to sanctions.
"For the first time, ships that help the shadow fleet are also included," von der Leyen said.
Critical infrastructure such as ports, refineries and airports that trade or handle Russian oil will also be subject to sanctions, according to the Commission President.
Furthermore, the European Commission wants to add an additional 31 Russian banks and 20 banks, crypto platforms and oil trading platforms in third countries to the sanctions list.
No Russian cod
The European Commission has also targeted a new area in the context of sanctions: fishing. Some fish products from Russia are subject to extensive restrictions and others, such as cod, are banned completely.
Furthermore, materials used by Russia's defense industry, such as metals and drone components, are expected to be subject to even stricter export restrictions or export bans. The EU also wants to introduce a total import ban on certain metals and car parts from Russia, goods worth the equivalent of SEK 650 million, according to von der Leyen.
Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said in a written statement that she welcomed the sanctions package and that "the time to strike hard against the Russian war chest is now."
"Sweden particularly welcomes the proposals for further listings of a large number of Russian banks, ships in the Russian shadow fleet, the adjusted oil price ceiling and proposed import bans on Russian fish, including cod. This will deprive the Russian war economy of important revenues," she said.
