[REVISION HISTORY]

Sanctions against Yulia Mendel

3 recorded revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-21 22:21 UTC → 2026-10-19 08:32 UTC · added ~~removed~~

President Volodymyr ~~Zelensky~~ Zelenskyy imposed ten-year sanctions on several individuals, including former press secretary Yulia Mendel, accusing them of spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation. The sanctions involve asset freezes and restrictions on commercial transactions. Mendel has challenged the legality of these measures, describing them as “unconstitutional” and an attempt to silence peace advocates. Following these sanctions, Mendel was barred from entering the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where she was scheduled to be a keynote speaker for an event organized by German Alternative for Germany (AfD) MEP Hans Neuhoff. Although denied entry, Mendel delivered her speech virtually via videoconference. During her address, Mendel raised concerns regarding the political climate and demographic stability in Ukraine, describing a “fragile democracy” where peace proponents face significant pressure. She highlighted a sharp increase in legal proceedings related to national security, noting that while 73 people were convicted of such crimes in 2015, there have been over 1,000 arrests and 3,500 proceedings related to treason in 2025. Mendel also cited a Gallup poll indicating that 66 percent of Ukrainians desire peace as soon as possible. In September 2026, Mendel escalated her criticism of the Ukrainian leadership in an interview with Die Weltwoche. She accused Zelenskyy of betrayal and of demanding a propaganda system similar to that of Joseph ~~Goebbels, where the dissemination of positive information was prioritized over factual accuracy.~~ Goebbels. In October 2026, Mendel ~~alleged that~~ expanded her critique in an interview with The Telegraph, characterizing Zelenskyy’s wartime strategy as “national suicide.” She proposed a split of responsibility for the conflict between Zelenskyy ~~suggested reality was less important than public~~ and ~~media perception, accusing him of constantly “selling hope”~~ Vladimir Putin at approximately 40% to 60%, and argued that Ukraine should consider territorial concessions, such as the ~~population.~~ Donbas, and abandon NATO ambitions to achieve peace. While ~~she had previously praised Zelenskyy as an excellent leader,~~ Mendel denies being a Russian agent, calling such accusations “ridiculous,” critics suggest her ~~position has since shifted toward advocating for an end~~ rhetoric aligns with Russian efforts to ~~the conflict.~~ undermine Western support for Kyiv.

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