**Sanctions against Russia remain key tool of pressure**
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Olha Stefanishyna said on Feb. 19 that sanctions against Russia are still a crucial way to put pressure on the country.
Stefanishyna was speaking at an exhibition in Ukraine, where she noted that many sanctions are frozen in European Union territories. She said this is not something that can be easily reversed.
Russia has raised concerns about sanctions, but Stefanishyna did not seem surprised by this. She pointed out that Russia had used similar tactics during talks on the Black Sea grain corridor agreement.
**EU approves new package of sanctions**
The European Union has approved a new 16th package of sanctions against Russia. These measures will target aluminum imports and the “shadow fleet” of oil tankers used to avoid sanctions on the oil trade.
The sanctions are set to be officially endorsed by EU ministers on Feb. 24, which marks the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
**Court in Siberia hands down first prison sentence under anti-LGBT law**
A court in Siberia has handed down the first prison sentence under Russia’s ban on the “international LGBT movement”. This move is part of a broader crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights in Russia.
**Belarusian company using Russian-occupied Ukrainian materials**
The Belarusian company Agroproduct is using raw materials from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine to produce rapeseed oil, which it then exports to the European Union.
**Oil prices remain high as supply concerns persist**
Oil prices have remained near a one-week high on Feb. 19 due to ongoing concerns over supply disruptions in Russia and the US.
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