EU nations push for a seventh round of sanctions on Russia
Sweden and Poland lead a group of Nordic and eastern countries to provide more military aid to Ukraine.
(Reuters)
Several European Union
countries are pushing to start work on a new package of
sanctions against Russia and Belarus for the conflict in Ukraine
and also want to grant more military support to Kiev, according
to diplomats and a draft document.
About one-third of the 27 EU governments, mostly Nordic and
eastern states, want the EU Commission to begin work on a
seventh round of sanctions, diplomats said.
The latest version of the draft conclusions of a summit of
EU leaders to be held later this week does not include a
reference to new sanctions but diplomats said the text, dated
June 15 and seen by Reuters, was likely to be tweaked after a
meeting of EU envoys late on Monday.
Germany and a few other states prefer to focus now on
applying existing sanctions and closing loopholes, rather than
embark on the complex process of agreeing fresh measures,
diplomats said.
After weeks of wrangling, the EU last month agreed to its
sixth round of restrictive measures against Russia and Belarus
since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, which included an oil ban
and sanctions on shipping and banks.
READ MORE: The EU’s ban on Russian oil, explained
Oil ban ‘too sensitive’
Limiting or reducing import of gas from Russia is considered
too sensitive at the moment, given EU’s high reliance on this
source of energy from Moscow, officials said.
Ambassadors have also discussed new military support to
Ukraine, although they remain divided on the matter.
According to the draft conclusions for the June 23-24
summit, the EU “remains strongly committed to providing further
military support to help Ukraine exercise its inherent right of
self-defence against Russian aggression”.
Sweden and Poland lead a group of Nordic and eastern
countries calling for an immediate disbursement of additional
funds to Ukraine.
The EU has already made available $2.1
billion in military support to Kiev from a so-called European
Peace Facility.
The budget ceiling on this facility is $5.8 billion
until 2027, but with approved funding to Kiev and plans for
more, half of its resources will have been used up, officials
said.
Germany and other states are reluctant to tap this facility
further, citing budgetary concerns and risks that not enough
money would be available for other crises.
In the draft conclusions, a paragraph on the question of further military support for Ukraine through the facility is in brackets, meaning that this reference is likely to be revised.
READ MORE: China’s May oil imports from Russia soar to a record, surpass Saudi supply
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
Sweden and Poland lead a group of Nordic and eastern countries to provide more military aid to Ukraine.
(Reuters)
Several European Union
countries are pushing to start work on a new package of
sanctions against Russia and Belarus for the conflict in Ukraine
and also want to grant more military support to Kiev, according
to diplomats and a draft document.
About one-third of the 27 EU governments, mostly Nordic and
eastern states, want the EU Commission to begin work on a
seventh round of sanctions, diplomats said.
The latest version of the draft conclusions of a summit of
EU leaders to be held later this week does not include a
reference to new sanctions but diplomats said the text, dated
June 15 and seen by Reuters, was likely to be tweaked after a
meeting of EU envoys late on Monday.
Germany and a few other states prefer to focus now on
applying existing sanctions and closing loopholes, rather than
embark on the complex process of agreeing fresh measures,
diplomats said.
After weeks of wrangling, the EU last month agreed to its
sixth round of restrictive measures against Russia and Belarus
since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, which included an oil ban
and sanctions on shipping and banks.
READ MORE: The EU’s ban on Russian oil, explained
Oil ban ‘too sensitive’
Limiting or reducing import of gas from Russia is considered
too sensitive at the moment, given EU’s high reliance on this
source of energy from Moscow, officials said.
Ambassadors have also discussed new military support to
Ukraine, although they remain divided on the matter.
According to the draft conclusions for the June 23-24
summit, the EU “remains strongly committed to providing further
military support to help Ukraine exercise its inherent right of
self-defence against Russian aggression”.
Sweden and Poland lead a group of Nordic and eastern
countries calling for an immediate disbursement of additional
funds to Ukraine.
The EU has already made available $2.1
billion in military support to Kiev from a so-called European
Peace Facility.
The budget ceiling on this facility is $5.8 billion
until 2027, but with approved funding to Kiev and plans for
more, half of its resources will have been used up, officials
said.
Germany and other states are reluctant to tap this facility
further, citing budgetary concerns and risks that not enough
money would be available for other crises.
In the draft conclusions, a paragraph on the question of further military support for Ukraine through the facility is in brackets, meaning that this reference is likely to be revised.
READ MORE: China’s May oil imports from Russia soar to a record, surpass Saudi supply
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
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