Politico learned about the unwillingness of the EU to punish third countries for helping Russia

As part of the 11th package of sanctions, the EU announced the creation of a mechanism of restrictions against third countries for helping Russia. Politico writes that it was decided to use this mechanism only "as a last resort", preferring diplomacy

The European Union, as part of the 11th package of anti-Russian sanctions, announced the creation of a mechanism of restrictions against third countries and companies in these countries that help Russia bypass restrictions on a number of technologies and goods, but the EU will most likely not dare to apply this mechanism, writes Politico.

According to the publication, some EU countries, such as Germany , believe that secondary sanctions should be a "last resort" because of the threat of Russia's rapprochement with Asian countries.

“We don't want to risk jumping straight into punitive measures that carry a huge potential risk of pushing companies, especially in Central Asia, into Putin's arms. And this is the exact opposite of what we wanted,” an unnamed European diplomat told Politico.

According to the publication, as part of the signing of the 11th sanctions package, the EU countries agreed that diplomacy and targeted work should take priority over the punishment of third countries that were suspected of violating the sanctions regime. “If sanctions evasion can be prevented through closer cooperation, this is always preferable,” the Politico document was quoted as saying.

The European Union announced the introduction of the 11th package of sanctions against Russia on June 23. In addition to restrictions against Russian individuals and legal entities, the new package will create a mechanism for the gradual introduction of restrictions against third countries that help Russia bypass restrictions on a number of technologies and goods, including dual-use ones. Such bans will be introduced if the restrictions against individuals have not worked, and cooperation with a third country does not give the “expected results”. If the circumvention of sanctions continues to be “substantial and systemic”, Brussels intends for the first time in its sanctions practice to introduce secondary restrictions against entire jurisdictions - “exceptional, extreme measures”, follows from a message on the website of the European Council.

As follows from the document, Brussels must first take action against "third-country operators" that help circumvent sanctions. After that, the EU "will resume a constructive dialogue with the third country concerned in order to ensure that remedial measures are taken to deter other operators from similar behavior."

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The European Council is then informed of the outcome of the interactions with the third country. If they are deemed unsatisfactory, "the union should be able to take further action." “As a last resort, it is advisable to introduce the possibility of restricting the sale, supply, transfer or export of sensitive dual-use goods and technologies or goods and technologies that contribute to strengthening the military, technological or industrial potential of Russia or to the development of the defense and security sector of Russia,” the document says. . Decisions to include a "third country" and targeted goods or technologies within the scope of the measure "should be taken by the council unanimously," the document says.

The EU pointed out back in May that some countries neighboring Russia felt the need for products, the supply of which to Russia was reduced due to sanctions. “We are seeing a massive decline in trade flows from the EU to Russia and unusual spikes in trade with other third countries, especially those in close proximity to Russia,” said EU special envoy for sanctions policy David O'Sullivan.

According to European foreign trade statistics, after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions, from late spring - early summer 2022, a number of CIS countries, including members of the Eurasian Economic Union (in addition to Russia, the EAEU includes Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Belarus), significantly increased importsindustrial goods from the European Union. But at the same time, in January-April, deliveries have already decreased compared to the end of last year.

Russian authorities criticize Western sanctions and call them illegal. The Kremlin said that sanctions pressure would not affect the goals of the Russian special operation in Ukraine.