The possibility of imposing secondary sanction examines the European Union (EU) in an attempt to prevent third countries from helping Russia to bypass existing bloc’s punitive measures against Moscow.
The EU is working on a 19th package package that is currently expected to focus mainly on Russian kidnappers, an issue that had a resonance with US President Donald Trump when he first met European leaders in the White House to discuss the war.
EU foreign ministers will meet in Copenhagen later this week and are expected to discuss a number of options, the same sources said, which spoke on the condition of anonymity.
A spokesman for the European Commission, the EU executive arm, refused to comment.
Ministers are expected to discuss the use of the so -called tool against circumvention, which was adopted in 2023, but has not yet been used. This tool may prohibit the export, supply or transfer of certain goods to third countries that are considered to help by bypass the sanctions.
Ministers are also considering further sanctions targeting the Russian oil and gas sector and financial sector, as well as further restrictions on imports and exports of Russian products, the same sources said. These discussions will take place in an informal form and will not focus specifically on the new sanctions package.
The EU has historically been opposed to the imposition of secondary sanctions, in particular the recent Trump government criticisms on this policy. But as the EU is preparing the new package of sanctions against Russia – which should be ready in a few weeks – it seems to have reached its capabilities with sanctions targeting Russia directly.
Trump has imposed the so -called secondary duties to punish Russian crude oil markets from India, which is considered a form of implied support in the continuing Moscow war in Ukraine.
While European allies have asked Trump to impose additional measures on Russia, the US has so far been delayed by the adoption of a broader penalties that “crush the bones”.