Strengthening the European Union's stance against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Poland has suggested a comprehensive sanctions package. This proposal includes advocating for a ban on Russian diamonds and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). Poland has further called for the alignment of sanctions imposed on Belarus with those imposed on Moscow. This move underscores Poland's commitment to enhancing the EU's measures against Russia and reinforcing solidarity within the bloc regarding the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

A proposal, reviewed by Reuters, reveals Poland's call to ban imports of Russian diamonds. These diamond imports reportedly contributed $4.5 billion to the Russian budget in 2021. The proposal also suggests the imposition of individual sanctions on the Russian diamond company, Alrosa (ALRS.MM). Poland's recommendation aligns with its efforts to enhance sanctions in response to the ongoing geopolitical situation.

"Alrosa has supported Russian military forces and the Russian war efforts in Ukraine, both directly and indirectly, for many years," the Polish paper said.

The European Union, having previously endorsed 11 sanctions packages against Russia following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, is now considering a proposal to prohibit the provision of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services to Russian entities. This prospective ban encompasses computer software, cybersecurity services, and various other ICT and IT services. This initiative reflects the EU's ongoing efforts to escalate sanctions in response to the evolving geopolitical circumstances.

"In the 8th package of sanctions against Russia, IT consultancy services were banned. This is a fairly narrow scope. No further ICT services were banned in the 9th and 10th sanctions packages. We call for other services to be included in the ban, in accordance with Poland's proposals," it said.

Poland has recommended that the European Union discontinue its purchases of Russian Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). This proposal aims to safeguard the integrity and transparency of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas market while preventing competition distortion. Poland's suggestion aligns with its commitment to maintaining fair and competitive practices within the LPG sector.

"Although LPG is a petroleum product, it has not fallen within the scope of the EU's embargo on the products belonging to the aforementioned category," it said.

The Polish proposal has now entered the consideration phase within the European Commission. The Commission will prepare a legal proposal that will subsequently require approval from all ambassadors representing EU governments in Brussels. It's important to note that the final EU sanctions package against Russia, if indeed it materializes, may not necessarily encompass all the components of the Polish proposal.

The proposal encompasses several key measures, including a reduction in the import quota for Russian synthetic rubber, which had been introduced in the 10th sanctions package. It also advocates for the prohibition of imports of Russian steel shapes and cores, as well as caustic soda.

Furthermore, the proposal recommends the inclusion of additional Russian military industry companies in the new sanctions package. It calls for action against media outlets disseminating Kremlin disinformation about the Ukraine conflict and proposes sanctions on entities associated with the Rosatom nuclear energy company.

The paper highlights the targeting of Russia's unsanctioned Alfa-Group oligarch, Andrei Kosogov, along with the AlfaStrakhovanie company, specifically for insuring military vehicles used by the National Guard of the Russian Federation.

Additionally, the proposal emphasizes the need for new sanctions against Belarus, which has been aligned with Moscow in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This multifaceted proposal underscores Poland's commitment to addressing the evolving geopolitical situation with comprehensive sanctions.

"The 'mini sanctions' package against Belarus adopted in July 2023 is not a sufficient safeguard against circumvention of Russian restrictive measures," the paper said.

"It is urgent that the EU adopts a new sanctions package against Belarus aligning measures between sanctions against Russia and Belarus. The current lack of alignment creates a systemic loophole where Belarus becomes a hub for circumventing EU sanctions against Russia," the paper said.

Image source: TOI