EU to Discuss 19th Sanctions Package on Russia

EU ambassadors will hold a meeting on September 19 to discuss the next, 19th package of sanctions against Russia, reports TASS. According to Euractiv, the European Commission intends to accelerate Europe's phasing out of Russian fossil fuels and considers sanctions an important tool to achieve this goal. According to European officials, the issue of introducing restrictions against Russian gas may be on the agenda.

As expected, the next package will be aimed at reducing the possibilities of circumventing existing restrictions, tightening control, and strengthening measures against Russian banks, energy companies, and the so-called "shadow fleet." It is also planned to introduce export restrictions that will affect third countries. New tightenings of the procedure for issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens are possible.

Earlier, European media reported that the European Commission is considering the possibility of officially presenting the proposal for the nineteenth package of sanctions on September 19. In that case, the EU ambassadors will be able to immediately proceed to the discussion to approve the new measures.

It should be recalled that the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, had spoken in favor of expanding EU sanctions against Russia's energy sector. The Russian Foreign Minister, in turn, stated on September 18 that the new restrictions from Western countries do not pose a serious threat to Russia.