EU fails to approve 21st sanctions package against Russia
Photo: Kaja Kallas (Getty Images)
EU foreign ministers have failed to reach an agreement on the 21st package of sanctions against Russia, said the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, according to the EU's official website.
"We do not have an agreement on the 21st package. Although I must say that we are quite close. But focusing on the positive, we had 250 listings, which are also very important under different regimes, all focusing on putting more pressure on Russia," she noted.
According to Kallas, some provisions related to imports of Russian fish will be removed from the sanctions package.
"There are different things put forward by different Member States that have to be removed from the package," she said.
Kallas also stressed that work is continuing on measures concerning former Russian military personnel. She said former Russian servicemen pose a security threat to Europe and should not be allowed to enter EU countries.
Earlier, the names of Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill and Lukoil founder Vagit Alekperov were removed from the draft of the 21st sanctions package against Russia. Following those changes, Bulgaria has given its full backing to the proposed economic restrictions.
The European Union continues to work on the 21st sanctions package, which is expected to target key sectors of Russia's economy. The new restrictions are set to cover the energy sector, financial services, trade, the cryptocurrency industry, and the fishing sector.
The proposal also includes an entry ban for former Russian military personnel who took part in the war against Ukraine. In parallel, the EU is preparing additional individual sanctions against around 80 Russian companies and individuals.
