EU seeks Russia sanctions deal before oil cap deadline

The European Union pushed on Wednesday to overcome an objection from Greece and agree a new round of sanctions on Russia before a deadline that could weaken efforts to limit Moscow's oil revenues. Discussions on the proposed sanctions over the war in Ukraine continued after several countries sought changes to parts of the package.

After failing to reach agreement last Wednesday, the EU's 27 member states reached a temporary compromise to keep a Russian oil price cap at $44 for one week. The move was intended to prevent the cap from rising and to give the bloc more time to settle a final deal. EU diplomats said the new deadline was Thursday.

Diplomats said the main remaining obstacle appeared to be Greece's demand to soften earlier restrictions on transporting Russian liquefied natural gas. Athens wants the EU to allow one Greek firm to continue transporting LNG to non-EU clients from Russia's Arctic Yamal facility.

The package would be the 21st round of EU sanctions on Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. It was proposed last month. Brussels wants to keep the oil price cap at its current level for several more months so it does not rise automatically after higher prices linked in the source to the Middle East war.

Other parts of the package have also faced objections. Bulgaria said it blocked a proposal to put Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill on an asset freeze and visa ban blacklist. Diplomats said Germany objected to a ban on imports of Alaskan pollock from Russia, a fish widely used in children's meals. Plans for a broad visa ban on Russians who took part in the war in Ukraine also appeared to have been reduced.