• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Europe
  4. France, Italy FMs discuss tightening sanctions against Russia
Europe

France, Italy FMs discuss tightening sanctions against Russia

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 27 Apr 2022 21:35

A French foreign ministry spokesperson says the foreign ministers of France and Italy discussed further sanctioning Russia, particularly in the energy sector.

  • French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian
    French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian held Tuesday a telephone conversation with his Italian counterpart, Luigi Di Maio, during which they discussed the increasing pressure on Moscow, a French Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The two ministers focused mainly on sanctioning the Russian energy sector, the spokesperson noted.

"The ministers discussed the ongoing close French-Italian coordination in support of Ukraine ... They discussed options for tightening sanctions against Russia, particularly in the energy sector,” the spokesperson told a briefing.

The spokesperson mentioned that other topics discussed by the ministers included the situation in Libya and Mali.

Eni preparing to open ruble accounts in Gazprombank

Nevertheless, Italian oil and gas group Eni is preparing to open ruble accounts in Gazprombank to pay for Russian gas, Bloomberg reported citing sources.

Eni is still awaiting instructions from the Italian government and EU authorities regarding the conditions and the possibility of using such accounts, Bloomberg noted.

Russia had notified the West that it needed them to pay for gas deliveries in rubles, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying his country would not deliver gas to Europe for free, in a reiteration of President Vladimir Putin's that Russia would not accept anything but rubles for gas deliveries to "unfriendly countries."

EU planning 6th sanctions package on Russia

The EU Commission's Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis said on Monday that the European Union is preparing the 6th package of sanctions against Russia.

This sanctions package will include an oil embargo on Moscow, in response to the war in Ukraine, and will be designed in a way so as to minimize collateral damage to Europe.

So far, it seems the details have not been agreed upon, according to Dombrovskis, but he noted that the EU may begin phasing out Russian oil, or may impose export tariffs above a certain price cap.

According to the EU Commission, EU energy imports from Russia amounted to 45% of gas, 27% of crude oil, and 46% of coal.

According to the Financial Times, Russia ships about 5 million barrels per day of crude oil, about half of which goes to Europe, with energy exports accounting for more than $235 billion in 2021.

  • Jean-Yves Le Drian
  • Europe
  • Lugansk
  • Libya
  • Russia
  • Italy
  • Mali
  • EU
  • France
  • Donetsk
  • Ukraine
  • European Commission
  • European Union
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Trending Now

All
Ukrainian soldiers adjust a national flag atop a personnel armored carrier on a road near Lyman in the Donetsk People's Republic on October 4, 2022 (AFP)

EU to train 30,000 Ukrainian troops, doubling former pledge

Most Read

Chief of Russian Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Force Igor Kirillov (TASS)

20,000 docs obtained by Russia expose US biowarfare program in Ukraine

  • Europe
  • 30 Jan
Neo-compradors: the leftist foot soldiers of Imperialism

Neo-compradors: the leftist foot soldiers of Imperialism

  • MENA
  • 2 Feb
The Utter Disconnect between 'Realities'

The Utter Disconnect between 'Realities'

  • Analysis
  • 30 Jan
'Israel's' attack on Bukamal targeted food, medicine convoy (Footage)

Israeli attack on Al-Bukamal targeted food, medicine convoy (Footage)

  • MENA
  • 30 Jan

Read this

All
A train crosses the Russian-Chinese border in Manzhouli, China (Getty Images)
Asia

Cargo traffic via Russia-China border hits record high in January

  • Today
A large balloon drifts above the Kingstown, North Carolina area, with an airplane and its contrail seen below it (AP Photo)
US & Canada

US fighter jet shoots down Chinese balloon off SC coast

  • 4 Feb
IOF raids Ariha, Ezzeddine Qassam Brigades respond
Palestine

IOF raids Ariha, Ezzeddine Qassam Brigades respond

  • 4 Feb
An aerial picture of the gas leak in the Baltic Sea, taken from an F-16 fighter jet belonging to the Danish Armed Forces (Danish Defense Ministry)
Europe

Germany cannot prove Russia sabotaged Nord Stream pipelines - reports

  • 4 Feb
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS