EU Set to Underpin Sanctions against Russia

The EU countries are preparing to bolster sanctions against Russia over its war against Ukraine.

Reuters reports, citing its sources, that European diplomats are now actively working to ensure that EU sanctions against Russia remain in force for as long as possible. They fear Donald Trump's potential laxity with sanctions against Moscow if he wins the US presidential election in November.

Possible steps that could affect Kazakhstan include a "comprehensive" approach to identifying goods supplied to Russia and stricter restrictions on oil transportation. 

Kazakhstani companies have already been included in sanctions lists for trading dual-use goods with Russia. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's oil is supplied to the West through Russian territory. If sanctions are tightened, the EU's attention to how carefully Astana complies with them will follow.

Three Reuters sources said the tightening of sanctions would extend to the supply of dual-use goods and trade with Russia, again putting Kazakhstan in the crosshairs.

The clause would allow customs officials to hold up shipments if the destination seemed illogical, such as crossing Russia to reach central Asian countries,writes Reuters.

Reuters reports that the talks may also involve tightening the regulations concerning freezing the Russian Central Bank's assets. European countries must renew decisions on blocking these assets every six months, but this period may be changed to three years, making it more difficult to lift the sanctions in the long term.

Western analysts have already warned that if Donald Trump becomes US president again and makes some concessions to Moscow, the European Union will be forced to heighten its sanction policy against Russia and act more independently. 

Just the day before, Kazakhstan again emphasized that it is against using its territory to circumvent sanctions against Russia. 

Kazakhstan has not imposed sanctions against Russia, and Kazakhstan has not joined the sanctions against Russia. At the same time, we do not want our territory to be used to circumvent sanctions,
said Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Vasilenko. 

The US also recently announced imminent restrictions against Russia and "intermediaries in third countries" that supply Russia with dual-use goods.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny