Adrian JTLDR:
Russia purchased tens of millions of euros worth of weapons technology from the EU in 2023, despite sanctions. About €100 million in “sensitive goods” were imported by Russia from the EU in the first nine months of 2023, with some items being sent directly from EU countries. The trade involved bypassing EU sanctions and included countries like Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, and China.
Russia bought tens of millions of euros worth of weapons technology from the EU in 2023, despite facing sanctions. The purchases included around €100 million in “sensitive goods” that were imported in the first nine months of the year, with some items coming directly from EU countries. The trade involved circumventing EU sanctions and included countries like Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, and China. This has raised concerns about EU countries not doing enough to prevent Russia from obtaining technology subject to export restrictions for use in its war against Ukraine.
The article highlights that almost a quarter of the €450 million in “high priority items” received by Russia from the EU in the same period were sent directly from EU countries. Additionally, other nations like Russia’s neighbors and countries like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia were also involved in the trade that bypassed EU sanctions.
While official direct trade between the EU and Russia in “sensitive goods” has decreased since the start of the war, exports of these goods from the EU to third countries have increased significantly. This indicates a loophole in the sanctions regime that needs to be addressed to prevent the flow of crucial technology to Russia.
