MOSCOW, September 2 (RIA Novosti) - Brussels could include Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu in the list of individuals banned access to the European Union, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing a diplomatic source.
Shoigu could be banned access to the EU member countries, joining a number of other key Russian officials, affected by Western sanctions over their alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis, the agency said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Italy’s Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, the recently appointed EU foreign policy chief, stated that Brussels will take the final decision on further sanctions against Russia on Friday. The Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Union (Coreper) met on Monday to discuss the issue and will meet again Wednesday, Mogherini added.
The senior Italian diplomat also pointed out that the new round of sanctions will be aimed at Russia’s financial sector and arms and technology trade.
The West has introduced several rounds of economic sanctions against Russia over its stance on the Ukrainian crisis. The sanctions targeted Russia’s banking and financial sector, and also certain individuals, government officials and companies, which the West considered to be involved in the events in Ukraine. In retaliation, Moscow banned the import of most food from the European Union, the United States, and other nations which had imposed anti-Russian sanctions.
