Sweden submits ideas for 20th Russia sanctions package to EU's chief diplomat

Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard has asked Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to include proposals outlined by Sweden in the European Union's 20th sanctions package against Russia.

Stenergard said in a letter to Kallas that efforts to deter Russia are producing clear results. She mentioned that sanctions imposed on Russia's energy sector and shadow fleet have significantly reduced revenues Russia can use for its aggression against Ukraine.

She stressed that the EU must continue to increase pressure on Russia.

To this end, Stenergard asked Kallas to add the following measures to the proposal for the EU's 20th sanctions package:

• a full ban on maritime services for any vessels transporting Russian carbon-based energy resources from Russian ports
• tighter measures against Russian fertiliser exports to the EU
• removal of the value threshold for luxury goods.

Stenergard noted that European luxury goods have symbolic and political significance that goes beyond their monetary value.

"Luxury goods should not be exported to Russia regardless of their price tag. We look forward to continuing our close cooperation," Stenergard added.

It was recently reported that EU countries plan to approve the 20th sanctions package against Russia by the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On 18 December, the EU imposed sanctions on more than 40 vessels in Russia's shadow fleet, which Moscow has used to circumvent Western restrictions on its energy sector imposed since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.