Brussels may sanction more Belarusian companies – EU foreign policy chief

June 11, Pozirk. The European Union may expand dual-use goods restrictions to 22 new companies, including in Belarus and China, taking the total to more than 800, Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, told journalists yesterday.

The official made this statement in Copenhagen at a joint news conference on the upcoming 18th package targeting Russia for its full-scale war against Ukraine.

Should Washington approve a coordinated approach, the next sanctions package could come to a vote as soon as June 20, Politico reported two days ago, citing a senior diplomat involved in preparations for a summit in Canada scheduled for June 15-17.

Until now, US President Donald Trump has refused to apply new sanctions against Russia, even if his rhetoric towards Russian President Vladimir Putin had hardened over the slow pace of negotiations and the continued barrage of attacks against Ukrainian cities.

Asked if the EU would go it alone, von der Leyen suggested it would not, at least not for the time being.

“My assumption is that we do that (the revision of the price cap) together as G7,” she said. “We started as G7, it was successful as a measure from the G7, and I want to continue this measure as G7,” Euronews quoted her as saying.

In late May, the EU included the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant (MZKT), which manufactures transporter erector launcher vehicles for Russian missile systems, in its 17th package. Other Belarusian companies were sanctioned earlier for contributing to the Russian war effort. One of those is the Minsk-based Intehrał factory that supplies chips to Russia.

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