US President Joe Biden has signed two bills imposing additional sanctions on Russia and Belarus, the White House said.

The report said that the “Stop Importing Russian Oil Act”, which bans imports of energy products from the Russian Federation, and the “Suspension of Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act”, aimed at further strengthening trade and human rights sanctions, were signed into law.

Both bills are related to Russia’s ongoing special operation in Ukraine. The bills were previously approved by the U.S. Congress.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki previously said the sanctions are “something the president supports” and “something he has called for.”

This week, the Biden administration has already announced sanctions against Russia’s largest financial institutions and a number of individuals it believes are linked to the Russian leadership.

The European Union has also imposed another package of sanctions against Russia, as reported in the Official Journal of the EU.

Restrictive measures are imposed against more than 200 individuals and 18 organizations. The new sanctions affected entrepreneurs of the LNR and DNR, as well as family members of individuals who were already under sanctions.

These measures came into force immediately after publication – on Friday evening.

As previously reported, the EU decided to ban imports of certain types of wood, cement, fertilizers, seafood, alcoholic beverages and caviar from the Russian Federation. The EU decided to impose restrictions on the export of electronic equipment to Russia, as well as to declare an embargo on the supply of coal and other types of solid fuel from Russia to the EU. The latter restriction will take effect from August 10, 2022. Until then, the parties will be allowed to fulfill contracts concluded before April 9, 2022. The annual volume of coal imports to the EU currently amounts to 8 billion euros.

The sanctions also provide for a ban on the access of Russian vessels to EU ports for cargo ships, except those carrying gas, oil and oil products, fuel for nuclear power plants, some types of metals and iron ore, medicines.

The EU has improved the ban on the supply and sale of euro banknotes to Russia. This rule now applies not only to the euro, but also to all currencies of EU member states.