Media: new package of EU sanctions includes a ban on diamond imports from Russia

The new package of EU sanctions includes a ban on Russian diamonds, reported Bloomberg agency with reference to the document. The restriction may come into effect as early as January 1.

The European Union will also add a phased introduction of a ban on the import of Russian diamonds processed in third countries. A discussion of the restrictions is planned for this week, after which, as the agency notes, the proposals may change.

The President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, said at the end of October that the EU was preparing a 12th package of sanctions against Russia, which could also include restrictions on diamond exports.

As Deputy Finance Minister Alexey Moiseev previously reported, the EU’s intention to introduce sanctions against Russian diamonds into the 12th package led to a split in the Kimberley Process (KP, an organization of diamond-producing countries and diamond importing countries).

He noted that the member countries of the organization “for the first time in the history of the KP” did not agree on the final communiqué following the Zimbabwean chairmanship. According to him, “this unprecedented event was provoked by Western countries, which until the very end tried to include the Ukrainian story in the draft communiqué.”

November 13, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell reportedthat the EC will present the 12th package of sanctions against Russia on November 15. Previously, Borrell said that the European Union would present the 12th package of sanctions against Russia to the foreign ministers on November 13. He clarified that the EU received support on this issue following the meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Japan.