The European Union may include restrictions on Lukoil and Rosneft in its 21st package of sanctions, Politico reported. The companies were previously targeted by U.S. sanctions.
The new sanctions package is expected to be presented by the European Commission next week, while EU leaders are due to discuss it at a meeting on June 18.
The package is also expected to address the price cap on Russian oil. The current mechanism is set to expire soon, and under existing rules the cap would automatically increase in line with rising global oil prices. The EU is considering options to prevent that from happening.
At the same time, a complete ban on Russian oil, as well as further tightening of restrictions on its transportation, appears unlikely. Those measures were not included in the 20th sanctions package. However, additional vessels linked to the so-called shadow fleet are expected to be added in the new package.
The EU is also considering imposing sanctions on Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
