EU penning wide ban on commercial transit through Russia - media

Bloomberg reported the news with reference to informed sources, an Ukrinform correspondent saw.

The European Union is preparing to propose a ban on the transit of numerous goods through Russia as the bloc tries to strengthen compliance with sanctions introduced over the past year, according to the outlet.

It is noted that the ban will affect numerous technologies and other goods, including several types of cars that are bound for third countries transiting through Russia. The ban will be part of a new package of sanctions that the European Commission is preparing, Bloomberg claims.

The outlet notes that Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia are pushing the EU to ban the transit through Russia of goods and technologies that can be used by the Russian military, aviation, or space industries or help improve Russian industrial capacity. The new package of proposed sanctions, which will be the EU's 11th since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, could also affect tankers and ships that fail to turn on navigation systems that allow tracking their movement.

At the same time, Rosatom, which played a key role in the seizure of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, will most likely not be subject to the next package of sanctions as too many EU members oppose restrictions on Russia's nuclear industry. The main focus of the package will be on eliminating loopholes and combating evasion of existing restrictions, including by companies located in third countries.