EU may abandon new sanctions package against Russia – media
фото: facebook Служба зовнішньої розвідки України
The European Union has yet to agree on a 21st package of sanctions against Russia. After talks reached a deadlock, Brussels began discussing several options for further action – from postponing the new restrictions to completely abandoning them.
This is reported by Bloomberg, citing informed sources.
According to the agency, the main reason for the disagreement was Greece’s position. Athens opposes a ban on European companies from transshipping Russian liquefied natural gas for further export to third countries.
Bloomberg’s interlocutors said that the European Union is currently considering at least three scenarios. The first is to postpone the entry into force of the new sanctions for 24 months. The second is to completely abandon the ban on the transshipment of Russian LNG. The third is to not adopt the 21st package of sanctions at all.
A compromise option is also being discussed that would allow for the fulfillment of already concluded contracts. At the same time, the price caps on Russian oil could be extended separately, even if the remaining sanctions cannot be agreed upon.
Last week, EU countries agreed to temporarily leave the maximum price for Russian oil at $44.10 per barrel until July 23. This decision was made because member states could not agree on a new sanctions package.
The current mechanism involves reviewing the price ceiling every six months. It is set at a level that is about 15% below the average cost of Russian Urals oil. However, due to the increase in world oil prices after the aggravation of the situation in the Middle East, this limit was supposed to be automatically increased, which could potentially increase the Kremlin’s export revenues.
According to Bloomberg, this week, EU ambassadors will meet again to try to find a compromise and determine the future fate of the new sanctions package.
By the way, Greece blocked the adoption of the 21st package of European Union sanctions against Russia due to restrictions that could affect the shipping company Dynagas, which transports Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG).
At the same time , Bulgaria is ready to support the 21st package of sanctions by the European Union against Russia after the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill and the founder of Lukoil Vagit Alekperov were removed from the proposed sanctions list.
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