ChainCatcher message, the EU is studying the implementation of a new round of sanctions against about six Russian banks and energy companies. Sources say this will be the 19th round of sanctions by the EU since 2022. The measures may also target Russia's payment and credit card systems, cryptocurrency exchanges, and further tighten restrictions on Russian oil trade.
The EU hopes to coordinate some of these measures with the United States. A delegation of EU officials will travel to Washington this week to meet with their American counterparts and discuss the possibility of joint actions. The EU's latest package of restrictive measures will expand sanctions against Russian 'shadow ships,' targeting oil traders from third countries, and may introduce a reinsurance ban for tankers already on the list.
The EU is also considering imposing stricter sanctions on major Russian oil companies, removing some exemptions currently enjoyed by entities like Rosneft. Additionally, there may be a ban on the export of more goods and chemicals used in the Russian military-industrial sector. According to informed sources, the EU is also considering using its 'anti-circumvention tools' for the first time against Kazakhstan, which would prohibit the country from importing certain machinery.
According to EU trade data, these machines are still being transported in large quantities to Russia and are being used for weapons production. Other measures under consideration include restrictions on visas, limitations on ports handling sanctioned 'shadow vessels', and sanctions on services with military significance, such as artificial intelligence. The sanctions proposal is expected to be formally presented in the coming days.
