EU discusses 'anniversary' package of sanctions against Russia

Reuters reported the information citing senior officials of the countries.

The countries also propose to the bloc to ban more means of "Russian propaganda" and cut off more Russian banks from SWIFT, said the diplomats, who wished to remain anonymous.

"It is more and more difficult to get the necessary unanimity in the EU for more sanctions. Nonetheless, we will propose an ambitious new package," one of the diplomats added.

According to him, the new sanctions package should be ready by the first anniversary of the invasion on February 24.

The news agency noted that Ukraine had called on the EU to also blacklist Rosatom, a Russian state energy company. Until now, Hungary prevented this initiative from being implemented. Diplomats suggested that the first step would be to put Rosatom and/or its management on the EU blacklist.

European diplomats said that in a new package of sanctions they will once again try to put an end to the diamond trade with Russia and expand bans on trade in goods that can be used for military purposes.

In the coming weeks, the EU is also expected to review the price cap on Russian crude oil, which, according to the Polish diplomat, should be lowered from the internationally agreed USD 60, given that Urals crude has been trading below that level recently.

Polish and Lithuanian diplomats have also said they support new sanctions against Russia's ally Belarus, following an announcement this month by the EU's chief executive that the bloc will punish Minsk for helping Russia in the war.