EU countries have agreed on a new 16th package of sanctions against Russia. The Union seeks to keep up the pressure in the context of US-Russia negotiations.

The broad package, which includes a ban on Russian aluminium imports, will be formally adopted by EU foreign ministers on Monday, 24 February, the third anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As well as targeting Russia's lucrative aluminium sector, the new measures also aim to tighten controls on the so-called "shadow fleet" used to circumvent restrictions on Russian oil exports by blacklisting a further 73 ships.

The EU will also exclude 13 more Russian banks from the SWIFT global payment system and ban 8 more Russian media in Europe. 

US President Donald Trump has broken three years of firm US support for Kiev by opening bilateral talks with Moscow.

Top U.S. and Russian negotiators held their first meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, February 18, to pave the way toward an agreement on Ukraine.

European countries, including Ukraine, fear their position will not be taken into account. The US has said that the EU will eventually have to play a role in the negotiations because of sanctions against Russia. | BGNES, AFP