EU to target disinformation and more exports in next Russia sanctions

The EU will impose new sanctions on Russia’s military and political leaders, target Kremlin disinformation and include additional export bans against Russia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday.

The details of the upcoming sanctions package come as a surprise, as the European Commission has not yet shared details of the package with EU countries. The original idea was to adopt the package ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

"We must do more," von der Leyen said at a press conference. "We are supporting Ukraine to win this war."

Von der Leyen, standing next to European Council President Charles Michel and visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who earlier addressed EU lawmakers, said the Commission will propose the new measures in the coming days.

"Russia must pay for the destruction caused and the blood spilled," she said.

The Commission will propose to impose new sanctions on "a number of military and political leaders" and will also target Russia’s disinformation."We will target Putin’s propagandists, because their lies are poisoning the public space in Russia and abroad," the Commission chief said.

Finally, "the package will include additional exports ban, worth more than €10 billion. This will further starve Russia’s military machine and continue to shake the foundation of its economy."

Earlier this month, EU countries agreed on a cap on the global price of Russian petroleum products.