The European Commission and EU countries have broken a pause on discussions regarding the 12th package of sanctions against Russia and will begin consultations on the details this weekend.

Radio Liberty correspondent Rikard Jozwiak reported on X (Twitter) that the process for the 12th package is expected to be completed in November-December.

Agreements are expected to be reached in November, but it is more likely that this will happen in December.

So-called “confessionals” between the European Commission and EU ambassadors on the 12th package of sanctions on #Russia starts this weekend with a view to reach agreement in Nov though Dec might be more likely. #Ukraine

— Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) October 20, 2023

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, has previously expressed the wish that this package should include measures against the circumvention of existing sanctions, as well as new sanctions against the Russian defence industry.

According to media reports, the package may include earlier restrictions on trade in Russian diamonds which the countries of the "Group of Seven" are planning to impose, as well as new steps to combat the circumvention of sanctions through third countries.

Some EU countries propose strengthening sanctions against Russian liquefied gas and IT services, as well as to impose restrictions on Russia’s nuclear sector.

There is also speculation  that the EU will try to approve a proposal to use the proceeds from the frozen assets of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation to help rebuild Ukraine.

On 2 October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the pause since the EU’s adoption of its latest package of sanctions against the Russian Federation had been too long, and pauses like this extended the Russian aggression.