EU considers 13th package of sanctions against Russia: a ban on aluminum and LNG

The European Commission has begun to elaborate on the details of the 13th package of sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine.

According to Reuters, three diplomatic sources said the plans will focus on eliminating further loopholes to avoid sanctions, particularly for components that may be used for military reasons. New lists of targeted individuals and entities will also be presented.

The EU will limit Moscow’s ability to bypass existing sanctions and impose a ban on more Russian raw materials. The EU may ban Russian liquidated natural gas imports.

Poland and the Baltic states are calling for an embargo on imports of Russian aluminium and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

For months, the EU has discussed imposing an embargo on Russian aluminum imports. According to researchers at European Aluminium, the previous 12 sanctions packages had no effect on around 85% of Russian metal exports to the EU. 

The 13th batch of sanctions may help to change this. The EU nations are expected to adopt it by February 24, the second anniversary of the bloody invasion of Ukraine by Putin’s troops.

On December 18, 2023, the EU Council approved the twelfth package of sanctions on Russia, which included a ban on Russian diamond imports and other restrictions.