EU aims to agree 18th Russia sanctions package next week, diplomats say

European Union foreign ministers meeting on 23 June could seal a long-debated 18th sanctions package against Russia that would tighten curbs on the country’s banking, military and energy sectors, senior EU diplomats told Polish Radio.

Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Photo: EPA/SERGEY BULKIN / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL

One envoy called the ministerial gathering “a good window for consensus,” while a second cautioned the deal might slide to an EU leaders’ summit later in the week, which will close Poland’s six-month EU presidency, the broadcaster reported.

If adopted, it would be the third sanctions round finalized under Warsaw’s term in the rotating chair.

Targets: banks, Nord Stream, “shadow fleet”

Draft measures would:

• block additional Russian banks from the SWIFT messaging system;
• blacklist arms suppliers and tighten export bans on dual-use goods;
• hit Moscow’s energy lifelines by sanctioning inactive Nord Stream pipelines and clamping down on the “shadow fleet” of ships under foreign flags that carry Russian crude;
• cut the G7-led price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $45 a barrel, although diplomats said Washington still opposes the lower ceiling.

EU sanctions require unanimous approval by the bloc’s 27 states. Diplomats said most technical points have been resolved but political sign-off remains.

The EU’s previous, 17^th package, was adopted in May, and expanded trade bans and listed dozens of military companies.

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Source: Polskie Radio 24