The European Union is considering the possibility of including in the 16th package of anti-Russian sanctions measures aimed at a gradual abandonment of Russian liquefied natural gas, as well as a ban on aluminum imports from the Russian Federation, Bloomberg reported, citing its sources.
According to their information, the "time frame and scale" for the restrictions on aluminum supplies have not yet been determined. Details about the gradual cessation of liquefied gas from the Russian Federation are also not yet known. This measure could be formulated “either as sanctions or as part of a roadmap“ that the European Commission plans to present next month.
As Bloomberg explains, the sanctions would be “a tougher step“, but would require the unanimous approval of all EU member states and would be in force for a limited period of time. The idea of restrictions on “Russian pipeline gas“ is not viable“, as several European countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, rely on it, European officials said.
The EU is also considering the possibility of imposing sanctions on Russian courts. In addition, new banks could be excluded from the SWIFT cross-border payments system. Some companies in third countries, including China and the UAE, could also be subject to restrictions.
The new sanctions package is expected to be adopted in February, when it will be three years since the start of the war in Ukraine.