EU agrees new sanctions package against Russia

The new measures were agreed on May 14 and could be adopted next week, on the 20th. They are expected to affect Russian tankers and companies from third countries. The Kremlin said that scaring RUSSIA with sanctions is "a waste of time"

On Wednesday, May 14, EU countries agreed on the 17th package of sanctions against Russia due to military actions in Ukraine , AFP reported, citing diplomats. Earlier, the agreement being prepared for Wednesday was reported byBLOOMBERG .

The Financial Times mentioned the same date the day before. The newspaper wrote that the measures would affect 149 oil tankers, which, according to the EU , are linked to the Russian shadow fleet. The restrictions will also affect companies from third countries, including the UAE, Turkey, Serbia, Vietnam and Uzbekistan, which are suspected of helping Russia evade sanctions.

Bloomberg wrote that as part of measures against the Russian energy sector, the European Union considered adding Litasco Middle East DMCC, a trading division of LUKOIL based in Dubai, to the sanctions list. However, Hungary opposed it.

The Handelsblatt publication, citing a European diplomat, reported that the 17th package would most likely not include tough measures – it did not include “controversial proposals” out of fears that the restrictions would be blocked by Hungary or Slovakia ( EU sanctions require the unanimous support of 27 member states).

The day before, the HEAD of EU diplomacy Kaja Kallas said that the package could be adopted at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on May 20. Then Brussels will begin working on the next round of restrictions. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that the EU wants to coordinate new measures against Russia with the US .

The Russian authorities consider the sanctions illegal. The Kremlin has said that Moscow knows how to minimize their consequences. "Therefore, scaring us with these sanctions is a waste of time," said the president's press secretary Dmitry Peskov . Vladimir Putin called those who introduce the restrictions "morons" the day before, since they are harming themselves.

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