EU pledges to impose new sanctions against Russian Federation without regard to the U.S.

The European Union (EU) will impose new sanctions against the Russian energy sector regardless of the US plans. European Commission (EC) spokeswoman Paula Pinho said this at a press conference in Brussels on February 13.

"I don't know what the U.S. has in mind [regarding energy sanctions], <...> but we <...> have several packages [of sanctions], and the 16th package is being discussed now, which affects the energy sector among others," she said.

Pinho added that sanctions against Russian energy resources are in line with Brussels' intentions to get rid of energy dependence.

Council right: Slovakia ready to block 16th sanctions package

Bratislava opposes restrictions on Russian gas imports

Earlier, on February 12, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on the European Union to reconsider its energy policy in favor of abandoning sanctions against Russia.

It was reported that the permanent representatives of the EU member states plan to finalize the agreement of the 16th package of sanctions against Russia at a meeting on Friday, February 14. The EU plans to impose restrictions against Russia on the export of Russian aluminum and LNG within the framework of the 16th package of sanctions was reported on January 15.

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. For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that there were no innovations in the extension of illegal anti-Russian sanctions by the EU.