Not gas alone: EU postpresidents agree on 16th package of sanctions against Russia

Representatives of the European Union (EU) have agreed on the 16th package of sanctions against Russia. The final approval of the measures is scheduled for next week, but information about what the new restrictions will be has already hit the media. Details - in the material "Izvestia".

The EU is preparing the 16th package of sanctions: what it includes

Representatives of the European Union agreed on the 16th package of sanctions against Russia. The final approval of measures by the EU foreign ministers is scheduled for February 24, the date of the third anniversary of the beginning of the special operation to protect Donbass.

The exact list of sanctions of the 16th package is still unknown, but leading Western media and agencies have partially indicated what to reap.

As Reuters reported citing EU diplomats, the 16th package includes a ban on imports of primary aluminum. It is specified that the measure is planned to be introduced in stages within a year of the official adoption of the package.

According to Bloomberg, it is also about closing access to EU ports and services for 150 ships and tankers of the "shadow" fleet of the Russian Federation.

The Politico newspaper, citing EU diplomats, reported that the sanctions package also includes a ban on exports of some chemicals, chrome and other products used in precision machinery, as well as a ban on services to oil and gas refineries.

In addition, according to Reuters' interlocutors, the new measures involve disconnecting 13 banks from the SWIFT system.

French AFP adds that the EU plans to suspend the broadcasting licenses of eight Russian media outlets. At the same time, the list of media is not given.

Recall, on May 17 last year, the EU Council banned "any broadcasting activity" on its territory three Russian media outlets, including Izvestia, RIA Novosti and Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
The sanctions involve, among other things, a ban on the sale of game consoles.

In addition, the restrictions will affect 48 individuals and 35 organizations.

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen confirmed on social network X that the sanctions on Wednesday were agreed upon at the level of post representatives. Brussels promises to increase pressure on Moscow and support Kiev, despite the US-led talks on ending the conflict in Ukraine, writes the Financial Times. It is noted that the restrictions were approved by the ambassadors of all 27 EU countries.

Reaction to the 16th package of anti-Russian sanctions of the EU

In the State Duma called the next package of sanctions against Russia a manifestation of the agony of the EU. "In the conditions of the Russia-US dialog that has begun [the possible introduction of sanctions] once again confirms the continuing agony of European regimes and their lack of desire to find a solution to the existing problems," Maxim Topilin, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, told Izvestia.

As it became known, Hungary has achieved the exclusion of the use of oil products from Russian raw materials and equipment necessary for the maintenance of the Druzhba oil pipeline from the 16th package of sanctions. This was announced by the head of the Hungarian foreign Ministry Peter Szijjarto. He also criticized the introduction of a new package of sanctions, saying that this measure does not take into account the "new reality".

It should be noted that earlier, Slovak presidential adviser on international affairs Jan Kubiš admitted in a conversation with Izvestia that the sanctions imposed by the European Union are ineffective and cannot stop Russia's actions in Ukraine.

"We need to see what impact this set of sanctions has on the EU and what impact it has on Russia. This is necessary to act more gradually," he said.

Recall, on Saturday, February 15, the foreign Ministries of the G7 countries adopted a communiqué on new restrictions. In the EU still expect that such a measure will affect the decisions of Russia in negotiations on the Ukrainian conflict. According to the document, the EU foreign ministers believe that Russia should allegedly guarantee Ukraine's long-term security.