EU approves 12th package of sanctions against Russia

Reuters reported the information, citing European diplomats.

According to the source, although the text was agreed upon by all countries earlier this week, Austria did not give its final approval until late Thursday evening, December 14.

The information about the EU's agreement on the 12th package of sanctions against Russia was also confirmed by Radio Liberty's Europe editor, Rikard Jozwiak. According to him, this package will be officially made public in the coming days.

Austria blocks sanctions against Russia through Raiffeisen Bank

According to the agency's sources, Austrian officials have been speaking out about the list in meetings with EU officials and diplomats over the past three weeks. In October, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg criticized the list at a meeting of European ministers in Kyiv.

Representatives of Raiffeisen Bank also held discussions with Ukraine's National Agency for Corruption Prevention, the body responsible for deciding on the list of war sponsors. According to Reuters sources, they discussed how to remove Raiffeisen from the list. "We believe it is unfair that we are on this list," a bank spokesperson told the agency.

Reuters notes that Raiffeisen Bank is the only Austrian company on the Ukrainian list of war sponsors. Although Austria has publicly supported Ukraine, several Austrian officials have said they do not want to completely cut ties with Russia.

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Raiffeisen Bank, a subsidiary of Raiffeisen, became one of the key Western banks in Russia.

• On March 23, the National Agency for Corruption Prevention added Raiffeisen Bank International to the list of international sponsors of the war.
• In May, Raiffeisen Bank International abandoned the idea of selling its Russian subsidiary, failing to find a buyer. Instead, the Austrian group announced its intention to separate the Russian Raiffeisen from the group and hand it over to shareholders.
• On September 29, the National Agency for Corruption Prevention suspended the status of the Hungarian OTP Bank and 5 Greek shipping companies from the list of international war sponsors: the decision was made following negotiations.