According to an official statement, assets on EU territory of the entities in question must be frozen; plus, it is banned to provide funds or other economic resources to/for the benefit of such firms.

The EU Council’s decision is against Defence Industries System, SMT Engineering and Zadna, registered in Sudan’s capital, due to alleged involvement in manufacturing weapons and vehicles for the Sudanese Armed Forces.

The EU also includes the companies Al Junaid Multi Activities Co Ltd and Tradive General Trading, registered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as GSK Advance Company Ltd, on the grounds that they allegedly provide resources to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which are fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces.

In line with the EU position, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Monday that his country is ready to “produce and support Ukraine with military equipment and supplies”.

The issue was raised on Monday during a meeting in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenski, in which the two sides also announced deep interest in collaborating to jointly procure and produce armaments.

“Today we have talked about the possibility of making joint purchases of armaments,” the Ukrainian president said at a press conference after the meeting.

“We will seek financing together and will not circumvent trade rules as far as Polish supplies to Ukraine are concerned,” he said.

At the recent edition of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU will find a way to approve a €50 billion special fund for Ukraine through 2027, hampered by Hungary’s veto.

“I think it is very important to engage with the 27 EU member states to put in place the €50 billion in four years for Ukraine,” the official told news media in Davos.

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