The ambassadors of the European Union (EU) countries were unable to agree on a new package of sanctions against Russia at the meeting on Wednesday, reports the web publication “Politico” on Thursday.
The disagreement arose over plans to limit the export of synthetic rubber, which is mainly used in the production of tires, from Russia.
Italy, Germany and a number of other countries have been skeptical of the plan to ban the import of this raw material from Russia, but Poland has supported it.
The value of synthetic rubber that could be subject to sanctions is $700 million a year, according to Politico estimates.
The EU plans to adopt another, already tenth, package of sanctions by the first anniversary of Russia’s extended war against Ukraine.
There is still time to complete work on the development of restrictive measures and harmonize them, the publication says.
According to the information of “Bloomberg” agency, the current package of sanctions will include restrictive measures against the banks “Tinkoff”, “Alfa-bank” and “Rosbank”.
The EU is going to expand sanctions against Russian natural and legal entities, set trade restrictions regarding raw materials and goods that will be used in the military industry, including rare earth metals and electronics.
According to “Politico” news, the EU is going to tighten the requirements for airlines that operate non-scheduled flights to and from Russia in order to eliminate the possibility of circumventing the sanctions.
On the other hand, the publication “EUobserver” reports that within the framework of the new sanctions package, the export of plumbing products to Russia will probably be limited.
As reported, the European Commission (EC) proposed on Wednesday to impose new sanctions on Russia, which will prohibit the supply of goods to Russia in the amount of 11 billion euros, as well as to target Iranian drone manufacturers.
As EC President Ursula von der Leyen said, she hopes that the countries will agree on a new package of sanctions that would be implemented in accordance with the G7 countries.
“We are targeting many industrial goods that are necessary for Russia and that it cannot obtain through third countries,” said the EC president, indicating that it is about “vital goods such as electronics, specialized vehicles, machine parts, cargo auto spare parts and jet engines”.
Brussels wants export controls for a further 47 electronic components “that can be used in Russian weapons systems, including drones, missiles and helicopters”.
Since Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine last February, the EU has imposed nine unprecedented rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
They target Russia’s most important exports, such as oil, in an attempt to reduce Moscow’s income from spending on war.
However, the bloc’s diplomats admit that there is a lack of new areas to target under new sanctions.
As stated by the EU’s top representative for foreign affairs, Žuzeps Borel, almost 100 more natural persons and organizations are subject to the new sanctions, whose assets will be frozen and a visa ban will be imposed.
Those “responsible for military activities, political decisions, propaganda and disinformation” will be subject to sanctions, he said.
“We are targeting those involved in kidnapping, deportation and forced adoption of Ukrainian children to Russia, as well as those who support the plunder of Ukraine’s resources,” Borel said.
