Europe and UK impose sanctions on Vladimir Putin’s daughters

Vladimir Putin (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

The European Union and the UK have imposed sanctions on two adult daughters of Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of a new package of measures targeting Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, according to two EU officials.

The EU included Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova in an updated list of individuals facing an assets freeze and travel ban.

The move from the European bloc and Britain follows a similar move two days earlier by the US.

As evidence of torture and killings emerges from war zones outside Kyiv, the EU decided to impose a fifth package of measures in retaliation for Russia’s war.

In addition to sanctions on individuals, the 27-nation bloc also approved an embargo on coal imports. That will be the first EU sanction targeting Russia’s lucrative energy industry over its war in Ukraine and is estimated to be worth €4bn per year, the EU presidency said.

The EU has already started working on additional sanctions, including on oil imports.

The Foreign Office announced travel bans and asset freezes against them on Friday.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov’s daughter, Yekaterina Sergeyevna Vinokurova, also faces the same action.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: “Our unprecedented package of sanctions is hitting the elite and their families, while degrading the Russian economy on a scale Russia hasn’t seen since the fall of the Soviet Union.

“But we need to do more. Through the G7, we are ending the use of Russian energy and hitting Putin’s ability to fund his illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.

“Together, we are tightening the ratchet on Russia’s war machine, cutting off Putin’s sources of cash.” The Foreign Office said the action is being taken to target the “lavish lifestyles of the Kremlin’s inner circle”.

Earlier this week, the United States also announced sanctions on Putin's adult daughters, in a new package of sanctions that includes banning any American from investing in Russia.