Politico: The European Commission is preparing new restrictions on Russia

The European Commission is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia, reported the European division of Politico, citing four diplomats from EU countries.

Consultations with representatives of EU member states will begin within a few days. The European Commission plans to discuss the proposals with EU ambassadors on 23 September.

Diplomats suggest that a plan to limit the price of Russian oil, which is already being discussed by the G7 countries, will be discussed due to pressure from the United States. Other measures could be personal sanctions, a ban on the import of Russian diamonds and other luxury items.

July 21 European Union introduced seventh package of sanctions against Russia. A number of officials, actors and Russian organizations fell under the restrictions. In total, the list included 57 people, including Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, actors Vladimir Mashkov and Sergei Bezrukov, and others. The main limitation of the seventh package was a ban on direct and indirect imports, as well as the purchase and transfer of gold, if it is of Russian origin and exported from RF. In early June, the EU countries introduced the sixth package of sanctions, which included an embargo on offshore oil supplies from Russia.

At the end of August, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu declared in an interview with Die Welt that the Baltic countries proposed to the European Commission that measures in the field of trade and energy be included in the eighth package of EU sanctions against Russia. The Estonian Foreign Ministry clarified that the new restrictions will also affect SWIFT. In addition, among the proposals is to expand the list of individuals and legal entities that fall under EU sanctions. According to Reinsalu, the Baltic countries want the eighth package of sanctions to be introduced “as soon as possible.”