Borrell said that EU countries were unable to agree on the ninth package of sanctions against Russia

The EU countries have not yet been able to come to a common position on the ninth package of sanctions against Russia, there are still a number of issues that need to be agreed upon. This was announced by the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell.

“This meeting of the EU Council will be very long and difficult. We have sanctions against Russia on the agenda, the ninth package, we still have not reached an agreement. We still have to agree on a number of issues, ”said Borrell (quote according to TASS).

He added that the ministers of the EU countries “have different approaches”, which so far hinder the coordination of new restrictions against the Russian Federation. Borrell admitted that the EU countries could come to a unified position by the end of the day, but for this a number of issues need to be resolved, he added.

On December 10, the Polish ambassador to the EU, Andrzej Sados, announced that negotiations on sanctions had reached an impasse. According to him, this happened due to the large number of exceptions that were set by European states, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Belgium.

December 7, the head of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen informedthat 200 individuals and legal entities from Russia were included in the ninth package of sanctions. In particular, the Russian military, defense industry enterprises, State Duma deputies and senators, ministers, governors and political parties will be subject to restrictions. In addition, three more Russian banks will be included in the sanctions list, and broadcasting of four more Russian TV channels will be banned.

The EC also proposed introducing new export restrictions, in particular for dual-use goods such as electronics and IT components. As part of the ninth round of sanctions, the EU intends to ban the export of motors for drones and drones to Russia and to any third countries that can then transfer them to the Russian Federation, Ursula von der Leyen added. She also announced new measures against the Russian energy and mining sectors.

Amid the start of a special operation in Ukraine, the EU has already imposed eight packages of sanctions against Russia, targeting banks, defense companies, oil and gas producers and other sectors of the country’s economy, as well as hundreds of government officials, businessmen, journalists and others. Previous restrictions on Russia were adopted October 6th.