EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia delayed, say officials
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The European Union is searching for a response to the Trump administration's demand that it phase out purchases of Russian oil and gas faster.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
BRUSSELS – The European Commission will delay presenting its next Russia sanctions package, European Union officials said on Sept 16, as the bloc searches for a response to the Trump administration’s demand that it phase out purchases of Russian oil and gas faster.
The commission was expected to present a 19th package of sanctions to envoys of the 27 EU member states on Sept 17 that diplomats said was likely to include Russian banks, Moscow’s sanctions-evading “shadow fleet” and listings to stop circumvention in third countries.
No new date has been set for discussions of the package, the official said. The delay was first reported by Politico.
In recent days, US President Donald Trump has cranked up pressure on the EU to cut off energy revenue to Moscow in his efforts to end the war in Ukraine. As Russia’s most lucrative source of revenue, its fuel exports have helped to fund the war.
Washington is demanding that the EU impose steep trade tariffs on India and China
Europe already plans to end purchases of Russian oil and gas by Jan 1, 2028 – a goal it says is ambitious and would ensure that EU countries do not face energy price spikes or supply shortages in the meantime.
But Washington wants the bloc to move faster.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sept 15 that the Trump administration would not impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods to halt China’s purchases of Russian oil unless European countries hit China and India with punitive duties of their own.
European officials have said the bloc was very unlikely to impose crippling tariffs on India or China, treating tariffs differently to sanctions.
“It’s a challenging proposition (from Trump),” one EU diplomat told Reuters.
“Even if his requests are deliberately excessive, it still forces us to come to terms with them in some kind of way in order to avoid him shifting the blame onto the EU.” REUTERS
