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Estonia May Block New EU Sanctions Against Russia if Kremlin Gets Off Easy Again
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![Photo of Liubava Petriv]( "Photo of Liubava Petriv")
Estonia is threatening to veto the European Union’s 18th sanctions package against Russia unless it includes a lower price cap on Russian oil, national broadcaster ERR reports on July 9.
“We have a very clear position: the oil price cap reduction must be part of this package. On this issue, we have a firm stance,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.
The initial draft of the new sanctions package, presented by the European Commission in early June, proposed reducing the price cap on Russian crude oil from $60 to $45 per barrel. However, some southern European countries—particularly Malta—raised concerns about the move, citing its potential impact on shipping-dependent economies.
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Tsahkna emphasized that lowering the oil price cap is the most significant measure under discussion in the new package.
Other elements in the proposed 18th round of sanctions include measures targeting Russian banks involved in sanctions evasion, the country’s military-industrial sector, and remaining infrastructure linked to the Nord Stream gas pipelines.
In late June, Hungary and Slovakia—both traditionally cautious about tightening sanctions against Russia—blocked the original proposal.
Earlier, it was reported that the European Union failed to adopt its 18th package of sanctions against Russia after Slovakia once again blocked the decision during a meeting of EU permanent representatives.
