Brussels hastily working on adopting 10th Russian sanctions package before EU-Ukraine summit

Brussels is accelerating working on the 10th package of sanctions to be imposed against Russia, but to also include Belarus. EU members reportedly want to adopt the new restrictions before the EU-Ukraine summit, scheduled to take place in Kyiv at the beginning of February.

This evolving dynamic inside the EU has been disclosed by the Polish Press Agency (PAP), recalling the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen’s statement given on January 10, in which she called to put pressure on the Kremlin, as well as those who support it militarily, namely Belarus or Iran.

The Polish representative to the EU, Andrzej Sados told the agency, that “the work has indeed accelerated. Poland, together with a group of like-minded countries, is currently proposing tougher sanctions. Tightening the existing restrictions is also a constant process”.

While the upcoming summit is one reason for the increased speed on the package, the approaching anniversary of the outbreak of the war, February 23, as the publication reported, according to its sources.

PAP further reports, that the EU will once again attempt to impose sanctions on the Russian diamond industry, estimated to be worth €4.5 billion, as well as products that could be used by the military.

A EU diplomat told the PAP that “synchronising Belarusian sanctions with Russian sanctions in those areas where Minsk cooperates militarily with Moscow” is key.

Reportedly, Hungary has already announced that it will not agree with some restrictions, which will lead to further tensions with Budapest.