The European Union's latest Russia sanctions package risks missing a mid-July deadline as member states remain divided over several key measures, threatening an automatic revision of the Russian crude oil price cap on 15 July.
Italy and France have resisted a proposed entry ban for Russian military veterans who served in Ukraine, while Germany and Portugal harbour serious reservations about a proposed ban on Russian cod and pollock imports. Bulgaria and Italy also oppose placing Patriarch Kirill on the blacklist, with Sofia additionally blocking sanctions against Vagit Alekperov.
If ambassadors fail to reach agreement before the deadline, the oil price cap would automatically adjust upward to $60 a barrel. Separately, the bloc has approved opening accession cluster 6 for Ukraine and Moldova.