EU prepares 19th sanctions package against Russia: what will be included in the new restrictions.

According to FREEДOM: The European Union is preparing to introduce another sanctions package against Russia and support Ukraine in the military sphere. Next week in Brussels, ministers from EU member countries will discuss the issue of using profits from Russian assets and increasing sanctions pressure on Moscow.

The European External Action Service is already preparing the 19th sanctions package against Russia, trying to force the Kremlin to return to the negotiation process. One of the key aspects of the pressure remains Russian crude oil, which has become a point of attention for restrictions.

“We believe it is entirely legitimate that the income from these funds, that is, the interest earned on the principal amount in the account, is used to pay off loans provided by the EU and the US,” explained Lagarde.

Ukraine has already submitted its proposals to the EU regarding new sanctions, hoping for restrictions on Russian oil infrastructure. Among the proposed restrictions are sanctions against the captains of the shadow fleet, maritime terminals, and port infrastructure, as well as possible sanctions in the defense industry.

“Ukraine is also pushing for the introduction of sanctions against the captains of the so-called shadow fleet, maritime terminals, port infrastructure, and possibly insurance companies. Another broad topic is the defense industry. We have proposed a number of new categories of goods and substances for expanding the list of critical components,” noted Vlasuk.

Consequences of sanctions and economic crisis in Russia

On July 21, the European Union officially implemented the 18th package of economic restrictive measures, which has already become known worldwide. Russian and international companies that cooperate with the shadow fleet in transporting oil have come under the ban. The EU has also imposed restrictions on the import of oil products made from Russian crude oil.

“Sanctions must be imposed, they should be continually extended and strengthened as necessary to force people to sit at the negotiating table and conclude a peace agreement,” expressed Lagarde's opinion.

Meanwhile, in Russia, the consequences of economic restrictions are being observed. Certain regions of the country are already experiencing fuel supply problems — in the Kurils and in Primorye, the sale of gasoline has already been limited, and queues at gas stations in some cities are getting longer.

“Since August 20, there have been restrictions on fuel sales in the Kurils — no more than 10 liters of gasoline per person. Since August 17, there has been a shortage of gasoline with multihour queues at gas stations in neighboring Primorye. At that time, gas stations in Transbaikalia and the temporarily occupied Ukrainian Crimea returned to the Soviet practice of selling fuel by coupons,” according to a publication by The Moscow Times.

The fuel crisis in Russia began after drone attacks on oil refineries led to the shutdown of production at five of them, including the largest facilities in the country. To compensate for the internal deficit, Russia was forced to purchase oil from Belarus.

The European Union is preparing to impose new sanctions against Russia and strengthen support for Ukraine. Sanctions are being imposed to put pressure on Russia and stimulate the negotiation process. In the event of new restrictions, Russia may witness a further deterioration of the economic situation in the country. At the same time, fuel supply problems are already affecting a number of regions, which could lead to socio-economic issues in the Russian Federation.