FT learned that EU sanctions will affect oil price caps and the IT sector

The eighth package of anti-Russian sanctions of the European Union, which is being prepared in response to partial mobilization and referendums in the Donbass, will contain a ceiling on Russian oil prices and will affect information technology and cybersecurity, citing sources, the Financial Times reported.

In addition, the new package will expand the list of persons subject to sanctions, and will also include restrictive measures against Russian software.

At the same time, radical members of the European Union, namely Poland and the Baltic countries, demand tough measures against RUSSIA. In particular, they advocate disconnecting more Russian banks from the international SWIFT system and a ban on the import of diamonds and call for the imposition of these sanctions, including restrictions on the availability of information and other services in the IT sector, not only against Moscow, but also against MINSK.

At the same time, FT sources from among high-ranking European officials noted that it would be difficult for the 27 EU member states to reach an agreement on the issue of new sanctions. In particular, Hungary has already spoken out against restrictive measures in the energy sector. However, the EU is also considering the abolition of the right of veto and the transition to the principle of making foreign policy decisions, including on Russian sanctions, by a simple majority.

The European Union has begun preparing a new package of sanctions in response to partial mobilization in Russia and referendums in the Donbass, Kherson region and the territory of the Zaporozhye region of Ukraine controlled by Russian troops.

The referenda began on September 23, and voting will last five days. In the DPR and LPR, the voting will ask the question of the region joining Russia as a subject, in the Kherson region and on the territory of Zaporozhye, the question will be about recognizing their independence and then joining Russia.

President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow would support the results of the vote. Western countries, including the United States and the European Union, refused to recognize the results of the referenda.