The European Union could not accept the 10th sanctions package, which would have restricted roughly 2 billion euros annually in the export of Russian nuclear fuel and diamonds. The plan was to be set before February 24, according to a source within the diplomatic service of one country, as cited by TASS.
The European Commission announced on Wednesday that the final proposals do not include any restrictions on Russia’s diamond exports or its nuclear fuel sales to EU members, nor any other cooperation in the nuclear sector. These were the only sanctions items in this package targeting Russian exports, a quantity estimated to generate real income for Moscow, according to the message attributed to the commission.
The statement adds that the EU faced a tight timetable and insufficient time to reach a consensus on this proposal because of the urgency connected with the anniversary of the start of a special military operation in Ukraine, which compelled rapid consideration and decision-making within the bloc.
Former Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said that Budapest would do everything possible to keep the new EU sanctions package from restricting oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline or limiting Moscow’s cooperation in the nuclear field, signaling Hungary’s intention to shield these channels from further curtailment as the package moves forward. (Source: TASS)