"Holy Cows": A number of EU countries are not ready to include diamonds and uranium from the Russian Federation in sanction - NYT

According to journalists, some EU member states are lobbying for the protection of key sectors against anti-Russian restrictions. Intense backstage negotiations. The European Union is purposefully rupturing economic ties with Russia, but a number of European countries are trying to protect key industries from anti -Russian sanctions. About it writes The New York Times.

After a full -scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has imposed sanctions on 1236 people and 155 companies, freeze their assets and blocking access to the block. However, Belgium is still trying to keep diamond trade from the Russian Federation, and the Greeks are almost easily supplied by Russian oil. At the same time, France and some other countries continue to import uranium from Russia to produce atomic energy.

According to the newspaper, EU Member States use intensive backstage to lobby for their interests. As a result, some areas have appeared in the block, which the publication calls "sacred cows"-they do not even want to sacrifice them to support Ukraine and within pressure on the aggressor country. Journalists specify that the export of untreated diamonds is extremely profitable for the Russian Federation.

They continue to be supplied to the Belgian port of Antwerp, which is considered the main diamond node. It is a trade worth about € 1. 8 billion, and it is protected from anti -Russian sanctions. At least in September, the Russian company "Alros" was not included in the sanctions list so that the export of diamonds to Europe did not stop. In parallel with this, the Greeks achieved weakening for their ship companies, they were released from the oil embargo.

France Hungary, Slovakia and Finland have been extremely interested in the supply of Uranus from Russia. As a result, such indulgences for some countries are hostility among other EU members. Most of the states agreed to serious challenges for their economy and well -being of citizens in general to support Ukraine. As a result, they are now forced to watch the Allies continue to lobby for their interests, creating more favorable conditions.