EU diplomats have not approved the new package of sanctions against Russia proposed by the European Commission, because technical issues need to be resolved, including whether the ban on coal imports from Russia will affect existing contracts, Reuters reports, citing unnamed sources.
The European Commission has proposed a ban on imports of all types of coal from Russia, as part of a broader package of measures that would further restrict trade with Moscow.
“Sanctions must be approved by EU governments, but concerns were expressed at today’s meeting of EU envoys”, three unnamed sources told Reuters.
Besides a ban on coal imports, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis proposed that the EU impose an embargo on oil, noting that plans for sanctions on coal imports are not enough pressure on Moscow to stop the invasion of Ukraine.