The EU member states intend to prepare new sanctions against the Lukashenka authorities in connection with circumventing existing restrictions “against Vladimir Putin’s allies and trade in goods for the Kremlin’s military machine,” Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said on April 18.
“We discussed that the benefits of [Russian] frozen assets should be used in the interests of Ukraine. We are also ready for sanctions not only against Russia, but also against Belarus, because Belarus is being used by Russia to not comply with sanctions,” The Guardian quoted her as saying.
On April 18, Katarzyna Szymańska-Barginon, correspondent of RMF FM radio in Brussels, wrote on the social network “X” that restrictions on the import of agricultural products from Belarus and Russia will be included in the 14th package of anti-Russian sanctions of the European Union. According to her, the provision [on the imposition of sanctions] is already in the draft conclusions of the EU summit. “A coalition of 12 countries has been created (including Poland, the Baltic States, France, Germany), which demands this,” however, “southern countries are reluctant to accept the proposal from the point of view of food security,” the journalist noted.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on April 17 before the EU summit in Brussels that he calls on the European Union to impose additional tariffs on products imported from Belarus and the Russian Federation.