The government of the European country officially announced last Friday a new package of sanctions against Russia due to the war in Ukraine
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Kosovo approved on Friday the nineteenth package of European Union sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, reaffirming its alignment with Western policies toward Moscow.
The decision was adopted in a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Albin Kurti and also includes restrictive measures against Belarus, a key Kremlin ally.
Kosovar Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca stated that the decision responds to Kosovo's commitment to the promotion of peace and freedom, and he emphasized that the measure strengthens close cooperation with the EU and with the United States.
"Kosovo continues to align itself fully with its Western partners", he stated, stressing that the country has supported every sanctions package adopted since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.
El ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Kosovo afirmó que las nuevas sanciones fortalecen la cooperación de la UE con Estados Unidos
The nineteenth package, originally approved by the EU in October of last year, significantly intensifies pressure on the Russian economy, especially on sectors linked to the war effort.
The measures target strategic areas such as energy, the financial system, the military-industrial base, and special economic zones. They also target individuals, companies, and structures considered collaborators or beneficiaries of the war.
One of the central pillars of the new package is the total ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), considered the most forceful action to date against the country's energy sector.
Implementation will be gradual: short-term contracts must end within six months, while long-term contracts will be banned as of January 1, 2027. This measure seeks to structurally reduce energy dependence and Moscow's key revenues.
Las nuevas sanciones contra Rusia estarían centradas en debilitar la estructura comercial del GNL
The package also reinforces actions against the so-called "shadow fleet", a network of vessels used to circumvent the restrictions imposed on Russian energy exports.
With this new round of sanctions, the number of vessels included on the list rises to 557, which represents a substantial increase in efforts to limit evasion capacity.
In the financial sphere, the new provisions introduce stricter restrictions on services and infrastructure, including for the first time specific measures related to cryptocurrencies.
Será la primera vez que las sanciones incluyan a los criptoactivos
Likewise, trade limitations are expanded and mechanisms are tightened to prevent the evasion of sanctions, a phenomenon that has gained relevance as the conflict drags on.
Kosovo aligned itself with the West immediately after Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, the Government in Pristina has systematically supported every sanctions package approved by Brussels and Washington, despite not being an EU member.
This stance has been interpreted as a clear signal of its aspiration for Euro-Atlantic integration and of its commitment to the rules-based international order.
With the adoption of the new package, Kosovo strengthens its position in the Western bloc and sends a clear political message of condemnation of Russian aggression, in a context in which the war continues to affect stability and security in Europe.
El país liderado por Putin enfrenta numerosas sanciones por parte de occidente
