EU presses ahead with 17th sanctions package as war in Ukraine drags on

The European Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying pressure on Russia, announcing that it is actively working on a 17th package of sanctions in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

During a recent press briefing in Brussels, European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier addressed growing speculation about a possible relaxation of EU sanctions, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Mercier stated that the European Union had already adopted sixteen sanctions packages targeting Moscow and that the next round of restrictive measures was currently in development.

He added that the EU is also channeling proceeds from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's defence and recovery efforts. His comments follow reports suggesting that the United States may raise the issue of partially lifting European sanctions on Russia during upcoming negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. 

The EU began preparing its 17th package of sanctions against Russia in late March. At the time, European diplomatic sources predicted that formal proposals could be unveiled in early summer. However, officials noted that the timing and content of the new measures may be influenced by the progress of peace negotiations among the US, Russia, and Ukraine. 

Discussions about potentially easing sanctions against Russia have intensified amid these diplomatic efforts. However, the EU is unlikely to make any changes to its sanctions policy before July 31. On that date, all member states are scheduled to vote on whether to extend the current restrictive measures.

By Naila Huseynova