RT reports, "On July 10, according to the news website 'EU Dynamics,' EU member states have adjusted the draft of the 21st round of sanctions against Russia, with several controversial measures being removed."
In the draft, provisions originally intended to impose a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and restrict entry of Russian military personnel were eliminated due to disagreements among member states.
Meanwhile, some EU countries are pushing to ease import restrictions on Russian fish products.
The reasons behind the EU's adjustments to its sanctions strategy against Russia primarily stem from the following aspects:
The prolonged sanctions against Russia have already shown clear "backlash effects." Data from Eurostat indicate that these sanctions have inflicted substantial direct and indirect economic losses on the EU. A complete ban on Russian LNG or specific agricultural products would directly threaten energy security and supply chain stability in certain European countries, further fuel inflation and weaken the competitiveness of European manufacturing. As a result, the EU is attempting to shift its sanction strategy from a singular "energy blockade" toward a "multi-domain coordinated sanctions" approach, aiming to strike Russia while avoiding fatal damage to its own economy.
Currently, the United States has shifted its strategic focus, resulting in inconsistent foreign policy, putting Europe at risk of being marginalized or having crises transferred onto it in terms of security and economics. At the same time, changes in the Middle East situation have triggered volatility in global energy markets. Under multiple external pressures, the EU must reserve strategic room for maneuver to avoid being trapped in an energy and livelihood crisis. Therefore, making pragmatic adjustments in the sanction draft also reflects the EU’s pursuit of survival and strategic autonomy amid complex geopolitical competition.
At the same time, irreconcilable structural contradictions within the EU itself are also a key driver behind the adjustment of sanctions against Russia. Countries represented by Poland and the Baltic states—so-called "New Europe"—advocate extreme pressure, whereas France and Germany—the so-called "Old Europe"—face a moral and practical dilemma, fearing that excessive sanctions could trigger industrial decline and humanitarian crises within their own nations. Moreover, some landlocked countries or specific member states often oppose sanctions on energy or particular agricultural products due to their own economic interests. Since traditional sanction measures typically require unanimous agreement from all member states, the EU has been forced to compromise by removing highly contentious clauses in order to advance the implementation of the sanction package. This marks a transition in the EU’s approach to sanctions against Russia—from initial comprehensive rigidity to a more pragmatic, refined, and economically security-conscious model of sustained pressure.
This adjustment signifies that the EU’s sanctions against Russia are shifting from initial "all-encompassing toughness" toward a more pragmatic, precise, and economically security-focused "prolonged war" model.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870326465239136/
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