The 19th package of European Union sanctions against Russia may be approved on Thursday 23 October.

Source : Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 20 October

Details : Kallas expressed confidence that the new sanctions package would be approved on 23 October.

"We are expecting this week, also, to adopt a 19th package of sanctions," she said, noting that "unfortunately, not today".

"We have also a leaders' meeting coming up on Thursday," the EU's top diplomat added.

Kallas stressed that the EU sees "President Trump's efforts to bring peace to Ukraine".

"Of course, all these efforts are welcomed, but we do not see Russia really wanting peace. Russia only understands strength and only negotiates when it is really put to negotiate. So, right now, we do not see it yet," she concluded.

Background :

• On 18 October, Austria announced it would support the adoption of a new package of sanctions against Russia, removing one of the key obstacles before the vote early next week.
• Earlier, the approval of the package had stalled because Austria demanded that the EU lift sanctions from part of Russia's assets to compensate Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International for fines imposed by Russia. However, other EU governments rejected this demand.
• At present, the 19th sanctions package is being blocked only by Slovakia, which insists the issue be discussed at the EU leaders' summit on 23 October.

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