The seventh European Council package with restrictive measures against Russia was adopted on 25 July. Now Oslo is joining and the set of incorporated penalties became part of Norwegian law on Friday August 26th.

“Once again, we are acting in concert with the EU to impose sanctions on Russia in order to maintain pressure on the Russian government and listed members of the Russian elite,” Foreign Minister Huitfeldt said in a statement. a statement.

“These sanctions are a necessary response to Russia’s brutal and unprovoked attack on Ukraine,” the minister added.

With the war now dragging on for six months, the sweeping sanctions packages are aimed at reducing Russia’s ability to fund its illegal war crimes in the neighboring country.

Norway is one of many European and North American countries supplying Ukraine with weapons and equipment to resist Russian attacks. This includes 22 M109 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers, air defense systems and 4,000 M72 anti-armour weapons.

Since February 24, most bilateral cooperation between Norway and Russia has ended. There are no more regional political contacts across the border in the north. Most business and commerce is disrupted. The wide range of Russian-Norwegian projects, from cleanup of nuclear waste to balalaika concerts, is now a bygone history of better days.

The seventh round of sanctions includes a ban on importing Russian gold and jewelry and lists 10 other entities and 54 individuals. For example, Sberbank is among the financial institutions that now see their European assets blocked.

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Norway has followed all EU sanctions except for large fishing vessels sailing under the Russian flag which can still call at Norwegian ports.

Ukraine has asked Norway to remove these exceptions, but Oslo says this is important for maintaining bilateral regulation of marine resources in the Barents Sea.

Both countries have succeeded for decades in maintaining sustainable stocks of fish, especially cod.