EU countries expect 'simple' 17th Russia sanctions package

By Julia Payne

European Union countries do not expect any major new restrictions in the next package of sanctions against Russia, which the Commission is due to share with member states on Tuesday afternoon, EU diplomats said.

The package proposal has come sooner than expected, they said, and member states were not informally consulted in advance on the contents, which has been the norm for previous Russian measures.

In mid-April, sources said the Commission's work on new measures was moving slowly and any new restrictions were not expected to materialise until June.

The sources said the package is expected to contain tighter export controls, as well as new listings related to sales of technology, which can be used by Russia's military, and shadow fleet vessels. Moscow has built up a vast fleet operating outside of western networks to export its oil and buy ammunition.

One of the sources added the aim was to show the 27-member bloc can "still agree on something against Russia" after repeated veto threats from Hungary's Russia-friendly government on Russia sanctions.

France's foreign minister told news agency AFP last week the EU would try to coordinate the timing of its next package with the United States.

Officials in Washington have finalised new economic sanctions against Russia to intensify pressure on Moscow to embrace U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to end its war in Ukraine. However, it was not immediately clear whether Trump would sign off on the new restrictions, which include new targets such as Russia's gas behemoth Gazprom.