EU States Agree on New Sanctions Package Against Russia

EU member states have agreed on a new sanctions package against Russia in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The package includes measures targeting the Russian financial and energy sectors, an entry ban for Russian soldiers, and a suspension of the automatic adjustment of the oil price cap for 12 months to limit Russia's oil revenues. The agreement followed weeks of difficult negotiations, with countries like Germany, Portugal, and France pushing for weakening measures to protect domestic industries. Notably, proposed import restrictions on Russian Alaska pollock and cod were dropped due to German concerns about impacts on fish stick producers and consumers. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, was also not sanctioned due to pressure from Bulgaria. The package expands export restrictions on goods used by Russia's military industry and adds more ships, banks, and crypto firms to the EU's blacklist.