Two EU countries resist ban on entry for participants in Russia's war against Ukraine – Bloomberg

Italy and France are cautious about the European Union's proposal to introduce a ban on entry to the EU for former Russian military personnel.

Source: Bloomberg, citing sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: These restrictions form part of the proposed 21st package of sanctions targeting Russia in connection with its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which member states plan to discuss on 26 June, the sources said.

The sources say Rome and Paris are not opposed to barring former Russian soldiers but fear that the current proposal could open the door to a full entry ban for all Russians.

Both countries also consider that a targeted entry ban would be better regulated through visa policy rather than sanctions.

Italy and France noted that the EU's proposal on banning entry for former Russian combatants would leave it to member states to determine who took part in hostilities and who did not, which, according to some sources, is not straightforward.

This is not the only obstacle the proposed sanctions package has encountered.

Among other contentious points, according to the agency, is the question of how to regulate the oil price cap given current high prices.

Bloomberg previously reported that officials are currently considering either freezing the price cap at its current level or returning it to US$60. Some sources say coastal countries are expressing reservations about these proposals.

Another contentious proposal in the package involves extending the sanctions regime applied to vessels illegally transporting Russian oil to vessels transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia, from which the EU is gradually moving away.

The idea is to pre-emptively prevent Moscow from creating another shadow fleet for LNG transport, as happened with oil. However, some EU countries are insisting on a longer transition period, sources say.

A number of capitals are also expressing concerns about plans to restrict imports of certain types of Russian fish, the sources added.

Other parts of the package being prepared include trade restrictions on certain key minerals, metals and ores, as well as export controls targeting around two dozen companies – including in China, India, Türkiye and Central Asia – which are said to supply Russia with restricted goods used in or needed for the production of weapons.

Background:

• At the beginning of June, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the EU's 21st Russia sanctions package.
• The package proposes, among other things, including a ban on EU entry for former Russian combatants who fought against Ukraine.
• Bulgaria did not support the EU's 21st package of sanctions against Russia over Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

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