It has also added North Korea's defence minister to its sanctions blacklist after the secretive state sent troops to Russia to reinforce its military.
The move -- part of the EU's 15th round of sanctions over the conflict -- represented a heightened effort to tackle the crucial role allegedly being played by China in keeping Russia's war machine going.
The EU said it was blacklisting four Chinese companies for "supplying sensitive drone components and microelectronic components" to the Russian military.
Two other firms and one Chinese businesswoman were hit for circumventing EU sanctions aimed at stopping equipment flowing to Moscow.
Among the companies was Xiamen Limbach alleged to have supplied engines for long-range attack drones used by Russia against Ukraine.
The EU has targeted Chinese firms before for supporting Russia's military.
But until now the bloc has imposed bans on European firms doing business with the Chinese companies -- rather than the tougher sanctions now being applied.
The EU also took aim at North Korea in the latest package, after Pyongyang dispatched troops to Russia to fight Ukraine.
The 27-nation bloc added defence minister No Kwang Chol and deputy chief of the general staff Kim Yong Bok to a number of North Korean officials already blacklisted.
Ukraine said Monday that its troops killed or wounded at least 30 North Korean soldiers who had been deployed in Russia's western Kursk region, where Ukraine has seized territory.
In a bid to limit Russian revenues, the EU included around 50 oil tankers from Moscow's "shadow fleet" used to help the Kremlin get around Western oil sanctions.
NATO chief to hold Ukraine talks with Zelensky, European leaders
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) Dec 16, 2024 -
NATO chief Mark Rutte will hold talks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders Wednesday, the alliance said, as Kyiv's backers seek to strengthen its hand before Donald Trump takes power in the United States.
"The Secretary General will meet with President Zelensky on Wednesday. A number of European leaders are in Brussels for the European Council meeting and some of them may join to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine, in particular air defence," a NATO official said Monday.
European officials said that leaders expected to attend included French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish leader Donald Tusk and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The meeting comes as Ukraine's European allies have begun discussing the possibility of stationing foreign troops in Ukraine in case of a ceasefire with Russia.
US President-elect Trump has vowed to push for a quick deal to halt the fighting when he assumes office in January.
That has sparked fears in Kyiv and Europe that Ukraine could be pushed to make big concessions to Moscow after nearly three years of battling the Kremlin's invasion.
For now, officials insist that discussions on any settlement remain premature -- and Rutte has urged them not to debate possible peace conditions in public as it risks playing into Russia's hands.
Moscow insists it is sticking to its goals in Ukraine and is currently making advances on the front line against Ukraine's fatigued forces.
"There has to be peace in order to send peacekeepers, and Russia does not want peace," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Monday in Brussels.
"That is very clear."
Zelensky on Thursday is then set to attend a summit with the EU's 27 leaders.
Related Links
The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
