European Union sanctions 2 Chinese banks over aid to Russia

The European Union has sanctioned two small Chinese banks in its latest package of measures designed to hobble Russia’s war machine, despite a warning from Beijing to expect consequences.
Suifenhe Rural Commercial Bank and Heihe Rural Commercial Bank, two regional lenders from cities close to China’s border with Russia, were blacklisted in the 18th package of sanctions agreed on Friday morning, diplomatic sources confirmed.

The development has been weeks in the making, with Slovakia withdrawing a long-standing veto to allow the package to pass. The central European country had been blocking the move over an EU plan to stop gas imports from Russia beginning in 2028.