The European Union is actively preparing for a new round of sanctions against Belarus as part of the 18th package of measures against Russia
According to sources in EU diplomatic circles, the process of coordinating the new restrictive measures is already in its final stages, and details of these measures are beginning to appear on the agenda of high-level structures. According to "European Pravda," on June 16, an ongoing session of the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) was held in Brussels, during which new proposals for additional sanctions against Minsk were discussed. The main novelty involves the introduction of restrictions related to high-tech software that is actively used by Russian financial institutions. This means that the EU plans to tighten control over software infrastructure supporting the operation of Russian banking systems and reduce opportunities for circumventing existing sanctions mechanisms. It is reported that by the end of this week, an updated draft of the sanctions will be prepared, incorporating these and other new measures. According to diplomatic comments, the preliminary targeted amendments presented on June 16 mostly concentrated on financial sector issues and focused solely on software. However, other proposals that expand sanctions restrictions on Belarus are expected to follow soon. Sources also indicate that discussions included measures to reinforce actions against the Russian regime as a whole. In particular, proposals include the introduction of new sanctions targeting the activities of Russian companies in the cryptocurrency sphere, restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats within the EU, and enhanced controls for circumventing existing sanctions regimes. However, diplomatic sources emphasize that a final decision on approving the package has not yet been made, and much depends on ongoing technical and political work carried out in informal consultations. At the same time, notable attention is drawn to the positions of certain EU member states, particularly Hungary and Slovakia, which have repeatedly stated the possibility of blocking the 18th sanctions package unless guarantees are provided regarding the supply of energy resources to the region. Diplomats report that many member states are concerned about the EU’s energy security and are raising questions about the need to ensure stable supplies of gas and other resources in case of sanctions restrictions. It is worth recalling that the draft of the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia already includes a proposal to reduce the upper limit of the price for Russian oil from the current $60 to $45 per barrel. During recent statements, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the final decision should be made jointly with international partners, particularly G7 countries, and discussed at the upcoming G7 summit in Canada. Moreover, according to diplomatic sources, the EU currently has no intention to unilaterally lower the price ceiling, as such an initiative is unlikely to gain support from the global coalition, especially from the G7. This issue remains a subject of heated negotiations, and further developments largely depend on international diplomatic agreements and mutual understanding. Therefore, over the coming weeks, several rounds of consultations and possible compromises are expected, which will shape the future landscape of the EU’s sanctions policy towards Russia and Belarus.