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The European Union on Wednesday imposed new sanctions against Russia for its war against Ukraine, targeting countries where businesses have used loopholes in previous sanctions to continue to trade with Russia, effectively supporting President Vladimir Putin's 16-month invasion.

The 27-nation EU had previously imposed 10 rounds of sanctions against Russian companies, while freezing assets and imposing travel bans on more than 1,000 officials.

The new sanctions are aimed at keeping key war-related materials and goods from reaching Russia via nations that trade with the EU but have also maintained a business-as-usual relationship with Moscow.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU's executive arm, said the new sanctions will "deal a further blow to Putin's war machine with tightened export restrictions, targeting entities supporting the Kremlin."

"Our anti-circumvention tool will prevent Russia from getting its hands on sanctioned goods," she said.

Aside from sanctions against Iranians alleged to be supplying drones to Russia, it is the first time that the EU has targeted trade via other countries.

The new package will also target 71 individuals and 33 entities in relation with the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Also included is a prohibition to accessing ports in the EU by vessels engaged in ship-to-ship transfers when there is a suspicion that a boat is not respecting the ban on importing seaborne Russian crude oil and petroleum products into the bloc. In addition, the package extends the suspension of the broadcasting licenses in the EU of five Russian media outlets under state control.

Russia shoots down three drones

Russia's defense ministry said Wednesday its air defenses shot down three drones in the Moscow area.

Russia said the drones were part of a Ukrainian attack, and that two of the drones were intercepted as they approached military warehouses.

Ukraine rarely comments on attacks within Russia.

Ukraine's military said it downed six Iranian-made Shahed drones over the Khmelnytskyi region in western Ukraine.

Russia has used frequent drone attacks as part of its aerial assault on targets in Ukraine since invading the country in February 2022.

Ukraine said it shot down 32 of 35 drones in a Russian attack on Tuesday.

NATO expansion

With three weeks until NATO leaders gather for a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Sweden is expressing hope that it will be able to join the alliance.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom told Reuters on Wednesday Turkey's parliament should begin the process of ratifying Sweden's NATO bid.

Sweden and Finland applied for membership in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland officially joined in April, but Sweden's accession has been held up by Turkey's objections to what it said was a lack of action by Sweden against groups that Turkey considers terrorists.

Sweden has carried out a number of reforms, including a new anti-terror law, as part of an agreement struck with Turkey last year to address security concerns.

"Our judgment is that we have done what was expected of us, now it is time for the Turkish parliament to start the ratification process," Billstrom told Reuters on the sidelines of a meeting in parliament.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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