Media learned about the preparation by Poland and the EC of sanctions against Russia's gas and nuclear sectors

The European Commission (EC) and Poland are seeking to prepare new sanctions against Russia's nuclear technology and gas at an accelerated pace. This was reported by Politico on December 27.

The publication recalls that on January 1, Poland will become the President of the Council of the European Union (EU) and, being one of Kiev's closest allies, wants to undertake a "crusade" against imports of gas and nuclear technologies from Russia by European countries.

Politico recalled that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has repeatedly demanded to make sanctions against Russia as broad as possible and tighten them. For example, he suggested raising barriers to imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU, limiting the supply chain of this fuel, as well as targeting Russian nuclear technology.

In addition, Denmark's former climate minister Dan Jorgensen, who leads the EC's energy policy, promised to present a roadmap in the first quarter of 2025 to gradually tackle Europe's energy dependence on Russia. Before Jorgensen's confirmation hearing at the EC, he prepared a draft of this document. The newspaper familiarized itself with it and found out that the new policy developed by the former minister may include both the rejection of LNG and nuclear fuel from Russia.

The newspaper cited unofficial calculations according to which EU countries have spent more than €200 million on oil and gas from Russia since the beginning of 2022, Gazeta.Ru adds.

"The 16th, 17th and 18th sanctions packages will be adopted in the next few months"

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Earlier, December 24, The Washington Post (WP) reported that U.S. President Joe Biden wants to impose new sanctions against Russia's energy sector in the last weeks of his term in office. The restrictions are likely to affect foreign ships carrying oil from Russia and Russian oil exporting companies.

Switzerland joined the EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus on December 23, making its restriction lists identical to those of the association.

Before that, December 16, the EU foreign ministers finally approved the 15th package of economic and individual sanctions against Russia. The list of restrictions includes 54 individuals and 30 organizations. Restrictions are also imposed on 52 vessels, which are subject to a ban on entry to ports and a wide range of services related to maritime transport. In addition, the airline Utair was included in this package of anti-Russian sanctions.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on the new restrictions, called the 15th package illegal and added that it jeopardizes global energy security.

Western countries have tightened sanctions pressure on Russia in connection with the special operation to protect Donbass. The decision to launch it was announced on February 24, 2022 after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.