European Commission announces ban on aluminum and video game consoles in fresh Russian sanctions
The European Commission has proposed a fresh round of sanctions against Russia, including a ban on imports of primary aluminum and restrictions on sales of video game consoles.
The measures, part of the European Union’s (E.U.’s) 16th sanctions package in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, also aim to curb efforts to bypass the Group of Seven (G7) price cap on Russian oil.
The proposal has already been circulated among E.U. Member States, with discussions set to commence soon. The ban on Russian aluminums, a major source of revenue for Moscow, is intended to weaken the country’s war efforts. The restrictions would apply to aluminum alloys and include a 1-year phase-in period, during which 275,000 metric tons of essential imports would be exempted. In 2023, the E.U. imported over 500,000 Tonnes of Russian aluminum, with nearly 330,000 Tonnes recorded between January and November alone.
The sanctions package also targets video game consoles and entertainment tools such as flight simulators and joysticks, which EU officials believe could be repurposed as drone controllers. The E.U. High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – Kaja Kallas highlighted Russia’s resourcefulness in finding alternative military equipment, stating that “even elements like video game consoles” are being adapted for drone operations. The proposed restrictions could impact sales of popular gaming systems, including Microsoft’s Xbox, Nintendo’s Switch and Sony’s PlayStation.
The proposal includes sanctions on 50 new individuals and entities, reportedly including Russian regional banks. The E.U. is also considering adding approximately 75 energy tankers to its existing list of sanctioned vessels, which currently includes 79 ships.
The European Commission plans to tighten restrictions on software related to oil and gas exploration and introduce a “transaction ban” affecting ports, locks, and airports used to transfer drones and missiles or facilitate evasion of the G7 oil price cap. The proposed restrictions would deny sanctioned Russian ports and airports access to facilities and services, with certain exemptions in place.
The plan also extends the timeline for implementing a ban on Russian diamonds from third countries. Initially set for March’25, the phase-in period has now been pushed to September’25. From that point, diamond sellers to G7 nations must utilize a blockchain-based tracing mechanism to verify the stones’ non-Russian origin.
Despite pressure from some member states, the European Commission has opted not to ban Russian Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), citing concerns over the ability to secure alternative energy sources in time. If approved, these measures would mark another significant escalation in the E.U.’s economic pressure on Russia, aimed at further constraining its ability to finance military operations in Ukraine.
