EU plans to agree on new sanctions against Russia within a week

Permanent Representatives of the European Union (EU) member states plan to finalize the agreement on the 16th package of sanctions against Russia at meetings on Wednesday, February 12, and Friday, February 14. This is reported in the agenda of the events.

"EU Council decision and regulation on restrictive measures in connection with Russia's actions <...>. Exchange of views," RIA Novosti quoted the program for Wednesday as saying .

At a meeting on Friday, the new sanctions are already scheduled to be prepared for approval by EU ministers.

Council right: Slovakia ready to block 16th sanctions package

Bratislava opposes restrictions on Russian gas imports

On January 15, it was reported that the EU plans to impose restrictions on Russian aluminum and LNG exports against Russia as part of the 16th package of sanctions. Later, on January 29, the newspaper Politico wrote that the sanctions would only affect LNG terminals that are not connected to the common gas distribution system of the European Union.

Later, on January 27, the head of EU diplomacy Kaja Kallas officially confirmed the agreement to extend anti-Russian sanctions for six months. It was specified that the restrictions will come into force on February 22. According to her, the restrictions will affect exports to Russia for a wide range of goods, including game consoles.

In turn, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Peter Szijjarto said that Budapest received from the European Commission the required guarantees of energy security, without which it did not agree to extend sanctions against Russia.

The next day, January 28, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that there were no innovations in the EU's decision to extend anti-Russian sanctions for six months. He also called the sanctions against Russia illegal.

On January 30, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, said that Western sanctions against Russia have no practical sense.

Western countries increased sanctions pressure on Russia after the start of the special operation to protect civilians in Donbas, which was announced on February 24, 2022.