EU approves 13th sanctions package against Russia, says Belgium

Brussels: The European Union on Wednesday approved its 13th package of sanctions against Russia, the EU's Belgian presidency said on social media platform X, confirming what sources had earlier told Reuters.

"EU Ambassadors just agreed in principle on a 13th package of sanctions in the framework of Russia's aggression against Ukraine", the Belgian presidency said, calling it "one of the broadest approved by the EU".

The new package will see nearly 200 entities and individuals added to the list but no fresh sectoral measures.

The package will be formally approved in time for the second anniversary of the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24.