EU ambassadors agree on 14th sanctions package against Russia despite German opposition

This was reported by the Belgian EU Presidency.

"EU Ambassadors just agreed on a powerful and substantial 14th package of sanctions in reaction to the Russian aggression against Ukraine," the statement said.

The EU added that the new package provides new targeted measures and "maximises the impact of existing sanctions by closing loopholes."

Yesterday, June 19, Reuters reported, citing EU diplomats, that officials from 27 EU countries have been discussing the sanctions package for more than a month. The new measures include a ban on the transshipment of Russian LNG and a plan to hold EU operators liable for violations of sanctions by their subsidiaries and partners in third countries.

However, the approval of the package was blocked by Germany. "Germany's hesitation was due in part to an internal disagreement between its foreign ministry and the chancellor's office, diplomats and a source familiar with the matter said," the report reads.

Earlier, the EU excluded one item from the new package - it extended the so-called Russia ban clause to subsidiaries in third countries. The clause would have forced these subsidiaries to "contractually prohibit re-exportation to Russia and re-exportation for use in Russia."

• The day before, Radio Svoboda's correspondent in Brussels, Rikard Jozwiak, said that Germany had not approved the new package of EU sanctions against Russia.
• Subsequently, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz explained that Germany is not blocking the new package of EU sanctions against Russia, but is trying to make them as effective as possible.