The EU is preparing an expansion of its sanctions regime against Russia, with plans to add approximately 1,600 individuals and entities to restrictive lists. According to a Politico report citing three European diplomats, the proposed sanctions package will be discussed at the upcoming EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Ireland, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. One diplomat noted that the working list of candidates for the new sanctions includes around 800 physical persons and 800 legal entities. The sources indicated that the overall goal is a significant expansion of existing restrictive measures, with a target adoption date in mid-October. During the upcoming meetings, diplomats are also expected to revisit the highly contentious issue of utilizing frozen Russian sovereign assets to aid Ukraine, an effort that remains stalled due to ongoing opposition from Belgium regarding potential legal liabilities. Resurrected push to utilize frozen assets The renewed discussion on sanctions coincides with a coordinated effort by Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands, and Spain to pressure the European Commission into reviving a stalled plan to harness approximately €200 billion ($232 billion) in immobilized Russian assets, held primarily at the Brussels-based depository Euroclear. The original proposal for a €210 billion ($243 billion) “reparations loan” collapsed at a European summit last December after Belgian leader Bart De Wever blocked the measure, citing the risk of Russian legal retribution.