EU officials are discussing potential sanctions against China and other third countries for purchasing Russian oil and gas, in response to growing US appetite to curb Moscow’s ability to fund its war against Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump has said he is open to new measures targeting Russia in conjunction with the EU, after previous efforts to force President Vladimir Putin into peace talks failed.
EU officials and diplomats began negotiations on Sunday over what could feature in a new sanctions package, with potential secondary sanctions against China — a major buyer of Russian oil and gas — raised in many of the discussions, according to three people briefed on the preliminary talks.