EU-RUSSIA: EU Agrees On 14th Sanctions Package, Hits LNG For First Time

The Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU posts on X: "EU Ambassadors just agreed on a powerful and substantial 14th package of sanctions in reaction to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. This package provides new targeted measures and maximises the impact of existing sanctions by closing loopholes." For the first time Russian supplies of liquified natural gas (LNG), but the ban is not as comprehensive as that on coal or seaborne oil. Euronews explains: "Instead, EU companies will still be allowed to purchase Russian LNG but be prohibited from re-exporting it to other countries, a practice known as trans-shipment."

• This 14th package of sanctions has been debated among permanent representatives for the past month, with Germany proving a long-term hold out on the so called 'no-Russia clause'. Politico reports: "Previously, the so-called no-Russia clause had only applied to firearms, battlefield items and dual-use goods — which have both a military and civilian application. Germany worried its small businesses would suffer if this was expanded to more civilian products, like chemicals, or machinery for metalworking."
• Reuters reports that there have also been disagreements between the chancellery (under SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz) and the foreign ministry (under Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, from the Greens) over the proposed sanctions. The removal of the no Russia clause appears to have proved sufficient to assuage German concerns, for now at least.