EU to adopt new Russia sanctions soon
The EU says new sanctions against Russia should be adopted shortly and take effect on Tuesday, despite a Kremlin warning of retaliation.
But an EU spokeswoman said the sanctions would be “reversible”, depending on the situation in Ukraine.
Pro-Russian rebels and government troops are observing a fragile truce.
Major state-owned oil firms including Rosneft are on the new EU list, but gas is not affected, diplomats say. US sanctions already target Rosneft.
Russia has warned that it could block international flights through its airspace if the EU goes ahead with new measures over the Ukraine conflict.
The pro-Russian separatists have recently made big gains in eastern Ukraine. But a ceasefire agreed on Friday appears to be holding despite some sporadic shooting.
Russia has repeatedly denied accusations by Ukraine and the West that it has been sending troops into Donetsk and Luhansk regions to help the rebels, who want to establish an independent state.
Diplomats say the new package will target Russian oil companies Rosneft and Transneft and the petroleum unit of state gas monopoly Gazprom.
Their access to financial markets will be restricted – a serious matter for Rosneft, which last month asked the Russian government for a $42bn (£25.2bn) loan.
The sanctions would also expand the visa bans and asset freezes on Russian officials and entities, including separatist leaders in Ukraine.
Earlier Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned that Moscow would respond “asymmetrically” to further sanctions.
Source: BBC
