Bloomberg has learned how many companies will be affected by new EU sanctions

The European Union is proposing sanctions against several Chinese firms that Brussels believes are helping Russian companies develop drones used in fighting in Ukraine , BLOOMBERG reports .

In addition, the European Commission is studying the possibility of introducing restrictions against Russian oil tankers, 50 individuals and about 30 legal entities, the agency writes.

The proposal comes after it was announced that G7 foreign ministers will pledge to take "appropriate action against entities in CHINA and other third countries" for military support for Russia. The ministers will meet in Italy this week, and the agency has seen a draft communique.

According to Bloomberg, the EU has proposed imposing sanctions on a Chinese citizen who controls a company that violated the bloc's trade restrictions. The blacklist will also include a Hong Kong firm suspected of supplying Russia with microelectronics, and representatives of the DPRK Ministry of Defense. South Korean intelligence and the US government have reported that North Korean troops are involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine . Moscow and Pyongyang denied this, but in early November the DPRK Foreign Ministry confirmed that it was providing military aid to Russia, without specifying what kind.

A number of Chinese companies are already under US and UK sanctions . China has repeatedly criticised Western restrictions, and the authorities say they do not supply weapons to either side of the conflict and are not involved in it in any way, but are only trying to play a “constructive role in facilitating a political settlement.”

The Kremlin said it had nothing to add to the Chinese position, and the Foreign Ministry called the data on Beijing's assistance disinformation. Russia considers the sanctions imposed because of the military actions in Ukraine illegal.

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