EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. File photoBRUSSELS, Feb. 22 The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that 351 State Duma deputies and another 27 individuals and legal entities would be subject to EU sanctions due to the recognition of the independence of the LPR and DPR. «We reached an agreement between 27 EU members under the package of sanctions that I proposed. This package of sanctions will be very painful for Russia. These measures will include 351 State Duma deputies who voted for such a decision. Also, these measures will affect another 27 individuals and organizations,» he said. 
Cut off from everything: what threatens Russia with new sanctions Borrell explained that the sanctions were agreed upon, despite the different points of view of 27 members of the union. He also noted that «the sanctions do not have a magical effect,» but are «painful» for the defendants. Earlier, the details of future sanctions were disclosed in a joint statement by the heads of the European Council and the European Commission, Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen. In particular, sanctions against the Russian Federation will affect individuals involved in the decision to recognize the DPR and LPR, as well as banks that finance activities on the territory of the LPR and DPR, including «military.» These sanctions include a ban on travel to EU countries and an asset freeze in the EU .The statement also stated that «the first package proposes restricting the access of Russia, the Russian government to the capital markets and financial markets and services in the EU». >The escalation in the Donbass is costing Ukraine billions of dollars. «This is aimed at limiting the financing of aggressive and escalation policies,» the document says. The EU also intends to limit trade with the DPR and LPR. «This should ensure that those responsible fully feel the economic consequences of their illegal and aggressive actions,» the statement reads. The EU called the recognition of the LPR and DPR «a flagrant violation of international law and the Minsk agreements» and promised to respond. The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said earlier that he was ready to submit the draft sanctions for consideration by the EU Council, which has the authority to approve restrictive measures.The Spectator called the threat to impose tough sanctions against Russia a bluffThe situation in the Donbass has escalated in recent days, the DPR and LPR have announced a lot of shelling from the Ukrainian security forces. The leadership of the DPR and LPR announced the temporary evacuation of citizens to the Rostov region in connection with the threat of Ukraine's invasion. It primarily concerns women, children and the elderly. As stated by the head of the DPR Denis Pushilin, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky will soon order the military to launch an offensive in the Donbass, to implement a plan to invade the DPR and LPR. On Saturday, February 19, the leaders of the DPR and LPR signed decrees on general mobilization, and then turned to the Russian Federation with a request for recognition. On Monday, after the Security Council meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the citizens of the Russian Federation and stated that he considers it necessary to immediately recognize the sovereignty of Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. He noted that the world prefers not to notice the horror and genocide in the Donbass, not a single day goes by without shelling, the killings of civilians and the blockade do not stop. As the President stated, in case of further bloodshed in the Donbass, the entire responsibility will be on the Kiev regime. Immediately after the appeal, the president in the Kremlin signed decrees recognizing the LPR and the DPR. In his decrees, Putin instructed to ensure the maintenance of peace in the DPR and LPR by the armed forces of the Russian Federation.
