A European source explained, on the evening of Wednesday 5 June, that discussions between EU Member States were progressing, but that they were “still far from a compromise” on the fourteenth package of sanctions against Russia.
According to this source, this package includes a substantial set of sanctions (see EUROPE 13406/1), which makes negotiations more difficult, going in various directions. The package, proposed by the European Commission on 3 May, covers Russian liquefied gas, maritime and air transport, finance, Russian state funding of political parties and foundations, additional restrictions on exports of goods and measures against entities and individuals supporting the Russian military-industrial complex or undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty. It also proposes strengthening sanctions against Belarus.
At a discussion between the Member States’ ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) earlier on 5 June, “many” Member States - including “the bigger ones” - had put forward a number of demands concerning what they did not want to see in the new package.
Despite the difficulties, the ambition of the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council is to reach an agreement before the G7 in Italy from 13 to 15 June and the ‘Peace Summit’ on 15 and 16 June. The Presidency knows that this will be very difficult, but is prepared to work day and night to reach a consensus, according to this source. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)