The European Union has moved closer to new sanctions against Moscow over its war on Ukraine in light of Alexei Navalny’s death.
Germany, Lithuania and Sweden were among the EU countries calling for specific new penalties against Russia over the death of Alexei Navalny in a remote penal colony in Russia’s Arctic.
It was suggested that Russian prison officials linked to Navalny’s death could be added to the list of those subjected to asset freezes and travel bans.
However, there was no immediate word of any more hard-hitting measures that could target Russia’s broader economy and an EU diplomat said so far it seemed any specific new sanctions related to Navalny’s death would be „symbolic” and come later.
That came during a meeting of the 27 EU foreign ministers, which had been scheduled before Navalny’s death, to discuss a package of fresh penalties to mark two years since Russia’s unleashed a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
Hungary, the last EU country needed to pass the proposed new restrictions against nearly 200 more firms and people deemed involved in the war, said it would not stall the bloc’s 13th package of Russia sanctions since Moscow invaded Ukraine.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that imposing more EU sanctions on Russia made no sense and would only hurt the bloc’s economy – but, he added, Budapest would not veto the package.
US President Joe Biden too said the US is considering imposing further sanctions on Russia, following the death of Alexi Navalny.
Speaking to journalists in Washington, Biden also said that he is willing to meet with House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson to discuss a funding bill for Ukraine’s war against Russia.
The $95 million aid package for Ukraine, which was passed in the Senate earlier this month, has not yet come up for a vote in the House, which Republicans control.
Romania supports the adoption of a new package of sanctions against Russia, enforced by the European Union.
