The EU reported on the preparation of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia and emphasised the need to tighten pressure on Belarus

Lithuanian Finance Minister Krystupas Vaitiekūnas and European Commissioner Maria Luis Albuquerque discussed new restrictive measures aimed at the Russian energy and financial sectors. Vaitekunas emphasised that the EU should extend sanctions also to Belarus because of regular hybrid attacks.

It's important to increase pressure on the Russian energy and financial sectors in particular," he said.

Albuquerque noted that the work on measures against Belarus has just begun and is being carried out taking into account the countries that help to circumvent the existing restrictions.

We are working with third countries, as among them there are those that help to circumvent the sanctions," she said.

Recall, the 19th package of EU sanctions against Russia, approved on 23 October, includes a ban on imports of Russian LNG from 2027, restrictions for 117 vessels of the shadow fleet of the Russian Federation and restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats in the EU.