Kyiv has prepared a plan to strengthen sanctions against russia and calls on allies to speed up the development of a legal framework and practical tools for using confiscated russian assets abroad for the needs of our state’s recovery. This was discussed during another briefing on sanctions policy at the Office of the President of Ukraine for the heads of diplomatic missions of the EU states and the EU Delegation to Ukraine, dedicated to the priority issues of the sanctions policy towards russia, with the participation of First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko and advisors to the Head of the Office of the President Vladyslav Vlasiuk and Daria Zarivna.

 “Ukraine already has practical experience regarding the mechanism of using confiscated russian assets to restore our economy. We call on the EU states to speed up the finalization of the legal framework and practical tools for the use of confiscated russian assets abroad, which are necessary for the needs of the reconstruction of our state,” said Yuliia Svyrydenko.

The First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy of Ukraine emphasized that the sanctions pressure must be strengthened. Yuliia Svyrydenko informed the ambassadors about the work of the Interagency Working Group on sanctions policy headed by her and, in particular, about the course of confiscation of the property of sanctioned persons for the benefit of the state.

In turn, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President, Member of the Interagency Working Group on implementation of the state sanctions policy Vladyslav Vlasiuk announced that the Yermak-McFaul International Sanctions Group had developed a new action plan to strengthen sanctions.

“Next week, the Yermak-McFaul International Sanctions Group will present Action Plan 2.0 on strengthening sanctions against russia. The first document became the basis for the introduction of many sanctions restrictions, so we hope that Plan 2.0 will be a real road map for the introduction of further sanctions,” said Vladyslav Vlasiuk.

During the briefing, the main priorities of strengthening sanctions pressure were emphasized: introduction of sanctions against Rosatom and their expansion against banks. Restrictions against the military-industrial complex and high-tech industries working for the military-industrial complex of the russian federation, propagandists and representatives of show business. The need to strengthen the effectiveness of measures aimed at circumventing sanctions was also emphasized.

Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President Daria Zarivna focused on the importance of imposing sanctions on propagandists.

"This war is also an information war. Propagandists are one of the keys to the existence of the putin’s regime. Pro-Kremlin journalists, artists and radical public associations are important targets for sanctions pressure. Imposing restrictions on their foreign assets and opportunities to travel around the world will certainly increase the effect in the fight against the aggressor,” said Daria Zarivna.

As Yuliia Svyrydenko noted at the end of the briefing, Ukraine sees the steadfast determination of its partners to strengthen sanctions pressure on the aggressor state. It is proven, inter alia, by the United States of America introducing more sanctions against Rosatom structures.

“This decision proves that our joint work gives results. Last summer, when President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the international community to introduce sanctions against the nuclear industry of the russian federation, few among our partners believed that such decisions would be possible in the near future, given the integration of Rosatom into the global and European nuclear energy industry and the sensitivity of the industry. However, such sanctions are already a reality today. The USA and UK introduced the first restrictions on individuals and companies related to Rosatom in packages adopted on the anniversary of the russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Currently, the USA has increased pressure in this area. We continue to work to ensure that the EU states join the restrictions against the nuclear industry and we see progress in this regard,” said Yuliia Svyrydenko.

As a reminder, the USA has introduced sanctions against the nuclear industry of the russian federation for the first time. So, in particular, Research and Design Institute of Assembly Technology ATOMBUD JSC, Kovrov Mechanical Plant, Tochmash VPA and Rusatom Overseas, which is responsible for Rosatom’s projects abroad, fell under the restrictions.