EU Foreign Ministers to Discuss 21st Sanctions Package Against Russia on June 15; Sybiha to Join

Foreign ministers of the European Union member states will discuss a new, 21st package of EU sanctions against Russia during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, June 15. This information was confirmed by several EU officials and diplomats on condition of anonymity in a comment to a correspondent from «European Pravda».

The draft 12th package of EU sanctions against Russia, recently presented by the European Commission, will be the subject of discussion among EU foreign ministers. «The first official agenda item will be Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine. The discussion is expected to focus on further pressure on Russia,» an EU official stated. Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, will join the discussion of European ministers via video conference.

A diplomatic source from «European Pravda» emphasized that the «quite substantial» 21st sanctions package, presented by the European Commission this week, will be discussed. The issue of further isolating Russia on the international stage will also be considered. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the EU's prepared 21st sanctions package against Russia on June 9.

This package, in particular, proposes to include a ban on entry into the EU for former Russian combatants who fought against Ukraine. The 21st sanctions package must be reviewed and unanimously approved by the EU Council. According to sources from «European Pravda», it is planned to be approved by July 15 due to the deadline for updating the «price cap» on Russian oil.