The European Commission wants to present a proposal for new sanctions against Russia by Wednesday at the latest. This is what official sources in the European Union say to the German News Agency (dpa). European energy ministers are currently meeting in Brussels to discuss the suspension of Russian gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the end of February, the European Commission has already adopted five sanctions packages. They targeted, among other things, Russian banks, shipping traffic and sea freight. A sixth sanctions package is in full preparation and will target Russian oil. Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, will also be added to the sanctions list.
The new measures will also limit nuclear cooperation. For example, until recently, Slovakia purchased Russian fuel elements for its nuclear reactors.
It remains unclear what terms EU member states that rely heavily on Russian oil supplies, such as Hungary, will agree to a ban on oil imports. Austria, Slovakia, Spain, Italy and Greece will be on lockdown. Germany recently switched and now supports an oil embargo.
European energy ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday afternoon to discuss the shutdown of Russian gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria a week ago. The emergency meeting was held by French Minister Barbara Pompele. Bombelli stressed at the beginning of the meeting that talks about the sixth sanctions package or oil are not on the agenda. “A new package is being prepared, but that is not the purpose of today’s meeting, that is, the coming days,” he added.
But the ministers will talk about how to become independent from Russian gas as quickly as possible. It also deals with security of supply and solidarity among member states.
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