EU-RUSSIA: U-Turn As 15th Sanctions Package Agreed After Initial Reservations

In what represents an about-turn, the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union has announced that member state ambassadors to the EU have agreed on a 15th package of sanctions to be imposed on Russia by the Union in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Initially, it appeared as though envoys were set to reject the latest sanctions package over disagreements regarding divestiture from Russian oil and oil products. 

• However, posting on X the Hungarian presidency said as part of the agreed sanctions, "The package adds more persons and entities to the already existing sanctions list, and targets entities in Russia and in third countries other than Russia that indirectly contribute to Russia’s military and technological enhancement through the circumvention of export restrictions. The adopted sanctions constrain the activity of additional vessels of third states operating to contribute or support actions or policies supporting Russia’s actions against Ukraine."
• Reuters reports that "the package also includes an extension of six months for the Czech Republic to import Russian oil-based products coming mainly through Slovakia", seen as a sticking point in earlier talks. The 15th package is set to be formally approved at a Foreign Affairs Council meeting of foreign ministers on 16 Dec.
• Bloomberg: "As part of the package, the EU proposed adding to the sanctions list several Chinese entities and a Chinese national, who controls a company that has breached EU trade restrictions;"