EU flags. File photoMOSCOW, Feb. 17 At the initiative of Italy, the EU countries are discussing a possible exclusion of the energy sector from the discussed sanctions against the Russian Federation, Bloomberg reports, citing informed sources. «The government of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi is discussing with partners on the EU, how to reduce the impact of sanctions (against Russia — ed.) on key sectors of the Italian economy, including discussions on the exclusion of financial sanctions for the energy sector,» the newspaper writes. Last month, Rome sent the European Commission, which is preparing a potential sanctions package against Russia, a non-paper document outlining Italy's concerns about the possible impact of sanctions on its economy, the source said. 5e0529d6b30747bbacec6dc305e86cc2.jpg» />The ambassador to Italy said that sanctions against Russia are being introduced without any object According to sources, Italy and Germany are striving to protect their banking sector from the possible consequences of anti-Russian sanctions. To this end, Rome proposes to impose sanctions on individual Russians, rather than broad areas of the Russian economy. In addition, Italy asked the EC to develop a compensation mechanism to mitigate the effects of sanctions on the EU countries, sources told the agency. Earlier, EU diplomat Josep Borrell said that the draft package of sanctions against Russia is ready, it will be proposed if the need arises. He noted that energy will become an important part of the EU sanctions against Russia if the situation around Ukraine escalates.The media reported on disagreements in the EU on the topic of sanctions against RussiaThe plans attributed to Russia to escalate the situation around Ukraine in Moscow are categorically denied and constantly say that they are not in danger of anything, and all such statements are used as an excuse to place more NATO military equipment near Russian borders. As Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier, Russia does not create any pretexts for a conflict situation around Ukraine. According to him, Russia does not rule out that the hysteria around Ukraine, hyped by the West, is aimed at covering Kiev's line of sabotaging the Minsk agreements on Donbass. According to the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, the information hysteria of the USA and NATO on Ukraine is generously framed by lies and fakes. Allegations that Russia is allegedly preparing provocations in Ukraine continue to come from the West, despite the return of Russian troops to their places of deployment after the exercises . On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. At a meeting with Putin, the head of the RF Ministry of Defense reported that «some of the exercises are coming to an end, some will be completed in the near future.» The official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov, said on Tuesday that the Southern and Western military districts of the Russian Federation began returning troops to their places of deployment. The withdrawal of the military to the places of deployment after the exercises is a common practice, there is nothing new, the press secretary of President Peskov told reporters earlier when asked if the withdrawal of troops means a de-escalation of the situation around Ukraine.
Expert: West discusses new sanctions against Russia with caution
