MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. The EU is having difficulty finalizing its 20th sanctions package against Russia; Donald Trump’s recent remarks on Ukraine reflect a tactic to distance the US from the conflict; and the US and Russia continue to keep lines open for dialogue on New START and strategic stability. These stories topped Thursday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.
Izvestia: EU faces deadlock on Russia sanctions as disputes over China, India, frozen assets hinder progress
The European Union plans to adopt its 20th package of anti-Russian sanctions by the end of this year, Izvestia writes. Despite pressure from the United States, the package will not contain sweeping secondary restrictions against India and China, as the EU remains split on the issue of targeting Russia’s trading partners. Analysts also deem confiscation of frozen Russian assets unlikely, citing the potentially severe negative impact of such a move. However, so far the 19th package, already coordinated with Washington, has yet to be formally approved. Meanwhile, the US itself has been sluggish to introduce new restrictions, despite sharpening its rhetoric toward Moscow.
"Discussions on the possible 20th package have not yet reached a concrete stage. Its adoption before the end of this year is possible. At present, however, the EU is focused on finalizing the 19th sanctions package against Russia in close coordination with the United States," Czech MEP Tomas Zdechovsky, a member of the European People’s Party, told Izvestia.
