Ukraine has joined the restrictive measures that the European Union is applying against Belarus.

“On 17 February 2020, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/214 amending Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP. The Council Decision prolongs the restrictive measures against Belarus for one year, until 28 February 2021. The Candidate Countries Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA countries Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine align themselves with this decision," reads a statement on the website of the Council of the EU.

The countries that joined the EU sanctions against Belarus will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it.

As known, these restrictive measures include an embargo on arms and on equipment that could be used for internal repression as well as an asset freeze and travel ban against four people designated in connection with the unresolved disappearances of two opposition politicians, one businessman and one journalist in 1999 and in 2000.

The restrictive measures against Belarus were initially introduced in 2004 in response to the disappearance of the four persons referred to above. Additional restrictive measures were later adopted against those involved in the violation of international electoral standards and international human rights law, as well as in the crackdown on civil society and democratic opposition.

The arms embargo was introduced in 2011.

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