Way to go before new Russia sanctions adopted by EU – report

European Union members will for the first time on Wednesday discuss new sanctions proposed in connection with Russia's war against Ukraine, targeting Chinese and Iranian firms and allowing export curbs to third countries for violating existing trade restrictions.

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An agreement on the new sanctions package is not expected to be reached quickly, Reuters reports, citing sources.

Talks between EU ambassadors begin at 11:00 am Kyiv time and, according to one diplomat, will be heated, as Russia hawks upset the plan does not go far enough while others fear damaging their international ties.

"Widely differing perspectives mean a quick deal is not expected", several diplomats said, per Reuters.

Speaking in Kyiv, European commission president Ursula von der Leyen said that the new sanctions would be aimed at cracking down Russia’s circumventing trade restrictions already in place and had been developed in very close cooperation with the Group of Seven (G7) countries.

She added the EU would stop transit via Russia of more of its exports, including advanced tech products and aircraft parts.

"Diplomatic sources familiar with the proposal – drafted by von der Leyen's Commission – said it also included blacklisting "tens" of new companies, including from China, Iran, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan," Reuters adds.

Sources also said that the new sanctions would ban oil tankers from unloading on the high seas or arrive at ports with their GPS trackers turned off.

All 27 EU countries must agree for the new sanctions to take effect, which will be the eleventh package since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

A diplomatic source from a strongly anti-Russian EU country told Reuters they were disappointed that the EU commission's proposal did not include a ban on Russian diamond imports or nuclear energy cooperation.

"At the opposite end of the debate, a diplomatic source from a country critical of the sanctions said the proposal to target third countries was bound to trigger a fraught discussion," per Reuters.