Members Of the European Union adopted the 19th package of sanctions against Russia, which, among other things, includes a ban on the import of Russian liquefied gas on the European market from January 1, 2027, a year earlier than originally planned.
The agreement was reached on Wednesday after the last member, Slovakia, gave consent.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico asked for assurances of the European Commission that high energy prices and the achievement of climate goals will be aligned with the needs of car manufacturers and heavy industry.
"We are very pleased to announce that the remaining member state has just informed us that it no longer has reservations regarding the 19th sanctions package," the EU said in a statement on the introduction of the new sanctions package.
A written procedure for making a formal decision has been initiated, and if there are no objections by Thursday at eight o'clock, the 19th package will officially enter into force.
What does the new package of sanctions mean?
Ban on the import of Russian liquid gauze It will be implemented in two phases.
Short-term contracts will end in six months, and long-term contracts on January 1, 2027.
The new package includes sanctions on 118 more Russian ships from the so-called shadow fleet, bringing the number of sanctioned ships to more than 560.
Lists also include banks in Kazakhstan and Belarus, and for the first time restrictive measures are being introduced against crypto platforms and bans on transactions in cryptocurrencies, and foreign banks connected to Russian alternative payment service systems are also under attack from sanctions.
Diplomatic sources in the EU told Reuters that four entities linked to China's oil industry would also be included in the sanctions list, but the names would not be released until official adoption. These include two oil refineries, a trading company and an entity that helps circumvent sanctions in the oil and other sectors.
Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, welcomed the adoption of the new EU sanctions package, saying that many of Kiev's proposals were included in it.
"But we are not stopping. Package number 20 is already being prepared. The logic is simple - less money in Russia means less missiles in Ukraine," Yermak wrote on Telegram.
The agreement was reached before the beginning of the autumn summit of the leaders of the EU member states, which starts on Thursday, October 23.
Trump postponed the meeting with Putin
American president Donald tramp canceled the planned upcoming meeting with the President of Serbia Vladimir Putin in Budapest.
Trump explained that he "just didn't feel it was right" and added that "even though every time he talked to Putin, the conversations were good, they didn't lead to anything."
A meeting between him and Putin, Trump stated, should still be held in the future, but did not specify the exact date.
Trump's decision was preceded by the introduction of new US sanctions on Russian oil companies.
In light of Putin's refusal to end the war against Ukraine, the US Department of State is introducing punitive measures against the two largest Russian oil companies that finance the Russian war machine.
According to the ministry, the sanctions are aimed at Russian state-owned company Rosneft - led by Igor Sechin, a close confidant of Putin - and Lukoil. The subsidiaries of two companies in Russia were also affected.
Source: FoNet/Reuters
This October, "Vreme" celebrates and honors - as much as 35 percent discount for our 35th birthday! Valid for semi-annual and annual subscriptions. Subscribe now!
