Articles Posted in Russia Sanctions

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On 24 June 2024, the EU adopted its 14th package of sanctions against Russia.  The latest measures include:

  • The designation of 116 additional individuals and entities across a number of industries for their responsibility in undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence.
  • A limited ban on contracts with Russian state energy companies and additional support for countries with energy needs to curb reliance on Russia.
  • Anti-circumvention measures, including requirements for EU parent companies to use “best efforts” to ensure that non-EU subsidiaries do not undermine EU sanctions.
  • A ban on the use of “System for Transfer of Financial Messages” (SPFS) (a Russian equivalent of SWIFT) by EU entities operating outside of Russia and a new power for the EU to designate third-country users of SPFS outside of Russia, which will then be subject to a transaction ban.
  • Comprehensive bans on port access by vessels contributing to Russian warfare, non-scheduled flights by controlled by Russian entities, and road transport of goods with 25% or more Russian ownership.
  • An amendment to the existing import-related restrictions concerning Russian diamonds.
  • Further import and export controls impacting Russia’s military-industrial complex and cultural property goods from Ukraine.
  • A requirement for the rejection of intellectual property rights applied for by Russian residents, nationals or entities.
  • A prohibition on accepting funding from the Russian state and its proxies by EU political parties, foundations, NGOs and media service providers.
  • An exemption to the ban on providing software services to Russia in cases where entities are controlled by an EU parent company and other select regions or services are provided by employees who were hired prior to February 2022.
  • A requirement for enhanced reporting, confidentiality requirements, and the promotion of voluntary self-disclosures.
  • Measures to allow EU operators to claim compensation in EU commercial and civil courts for damages caused by Russian companies further to sanctions.

These measures are summarized in further detail below.

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Takeaways

  • Sanctions operate prospectively and do not affect payment obligations to a non-sanctioned party accruing before sanctions became effective.
  • Payment obligations under standby letters of credit at issue were autonomous and unconnected with the underlying transaction.
  • The fulfilment of an independent obligation owed by a German bank to Irish-incorporated aircraft lessors was found not to have intended to benefit the Russian entities involved in other elements of the transaction.

The English Court recently confirmed that sanctions do not excuse non-payment to a non-sanctioned party where the aircraft lease arrangements and related letters of credit were created before sanctions came into effect: Celestial Aviation Services Limited, Constitution Aircraft Leasing (Ireland) 3 Limited and another v UniCredit Bank AG (London Branch) [2023] EWHC 663 (Comm).

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On February 24, 2023, the one-year anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the United States released extensive new measures designed to impose additional sanctions on Russia for its aggression against Ukraine. These new measures are summarized below.

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On February 24 and 25, 2023, the United Kingdom and European Union each adopted additional sanctions against Russia due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These new measures are summarized below.

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This post marks the third entry in our Year-in-Review series. For prior posts, click here.

Many of the first measures that the United States, European Union and United Kingdom collectively took against Russia in 2022 related to aircraft and international air travel. As the conflict broke out, each jurisdiction quickly prevented Russian actors from entering their airspace. Over the past year, export controls on the aviation industry and sanctions on companies that support the Russian aviation sector have grown increasingly complex. Those rules have also been applied to Russia’s ally, Belarus. Meanwhile, Russia has imposed a number of significant countermeasures in order to keep aircraft within Russia. Below, we explore how key sanctions on Russia have affected the aviation industry. 

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This post marks the second entry in our Year-in-Review series. For prior posts, click here.

Few sectors have been more affected by the sanctions on Russia than the energy industry. As Russia’s largest industry, it has been a focus of sanctions designed to deter the continuation and escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, with policies targeting the trade in oil and gas, new equity and debt, investment in energy projects, and export to Russia of equipment and parts, as well as designations of specific companies and individuals in the sector.

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On February 24, 2022, Russia’s entry into Ukraine set off an unprecedented wave of sanctions and export controls by a wide coalition of countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.  The goal of these measures is to cripple the Russian economy and its military capability, and they have had a widespread impact—both direct and indirect—on a broad array of global industries.

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On December 5, 2022, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a $60 per barrel price cap on maritime transfers of Russian-origin crude oil. The final cap level is being implemented multilaterally by the Price Cap Coalition, which include the Group of 7 (G7) nations and Australia.

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Various reports indicate that the Group of Seven nations (G7) will announce its initial capped price for Russian-origin crude oil transported by maritime means (“seaborne”) this week. The cap will come into effect on December 5, 2022, for crude oil (including condensate) and February 5, 2023, for petroleum products.

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In response to Russia/Ukraine conflict, and Belarus’ ensuing support for Russia, the United States and global allies have imposed sweeping sanctions and export control restrictions on both Russia and Belarus. These actions are discussed extensively in our prior publications.

The sanctions and export controls restrictions especially target Russia and have had a significant impact on the Russian economy. Virtually every industry is impacted, and Russia’s financial institutions, businesses and prominent individuals are being targeted by ever-widening sanctions and export control restrictions imposed by the United States and global allies. As the situation evolves, further restrictions remain possible.

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