The European Union (EU) has agreed on the content of the 21st package of sanctions against Russia.
Modern.az reports that Helen McEntee, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ireland, which currently holds the presidency of the EU Council, stated that the new package is aimed at further restricting Russia's revenue sources, complicating the activities of the "shadow fleet" and disrupting supply chains.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed the details of the agreed package. According to her, 32 more Russian banks will be added to the list of prohibited financial transactions. At the same time, cryptocurrency companies and oil trading platforms will also be subject to sanctions.
In addition, the decision not to change the price cap applied to Russian oil will be extended for another year. The new restrictions also target Russia's "shadow fleet."
It should be noted that EU countries could not reach an agreement on the package during the discussions held on July 13 and 22. The reason for this was disagreements among member states regarding the content of the document.
"Politico" reported that Greece's objections also affected the prolongation of the negotiations. This is because the unanimous consent of all 27 EU member countries is required for the new sanctions to come into force.
To resolve the disputes, Ireland proposed allowing the export of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to third countries until January 2029, while prohibiting the conclusion of new contracts.
Previously, "Evropeyskaya Pravda" reported, citing sources, that the approval of the sanctions package could be postponed until autumn. According to the information, disagreements arose regarding restrictions on the Russian fishing sector, visa bans, and individual sanctions.
The EU approved the 21st package of sanctions against Russia
