The European Union has not reached agreement on a new - sixth in a row - package of sanctions against Russia, European diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday after today's meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
"Unfortunately, it was not possible to reach an agreement today," Borel told reporters.
He informed, however, that foreign ministers decided to further support Ukraine with 500 million euros for arms purchases, bringing the total amount the EU has earmarked for this purpose to 2 billion euros.
Meanwhile, the EU announced that importers of Russian gas will be able to continue to pay without violating sanctions imposed on Moscow.
The European Commission sent its revised guidelines to member states on Friday, a spokesman said and Bloomberg reported. In the updated recommendations, companies must make a clear statement that they consider their obligations fulfilled once they pay in euros or dollars.
"Companies should make a clear statement that they intend to fulfill their obligations under existing contracts and consider their contractual obligations regarding payment fulfilled by paying in euros or dollars in accordance with existing contracts."
In effect, Brussels left a "window" for Russian gas purchases to continue, with importers required to make a "declaration" or "clear indication" that they consider their obligations fulfilled after making payment in euros or dollars. According to the updated directive, European sanctions "do not prevent suppliers from opening a bank account with a specified bank for payments under contracts for the supply of natural gas in gaseous form, in the currency specified in the contracts."
Source: Proto Thema
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