France says the European Union is preparing another round of sanctions against Russia, with the new measures expected to be approved on Monday. French Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad said the package would target 150 additional entities and 50 banks. He added that France had proposed most of the entities included in the planned measures.
Haddad said the EU intended to maintain economic pressure on Moscow while continuing its support for Ukraine. The announcement signals that France wants the bloc to keep using financial and economic restrictions as part of its response to Russia’s war. The proposed package is expected to widen the number of organisations and financial institutions facing restrictions.
The French minister also criticised Russia’s decision to bar several French citizens from entering the country. Those affected include Le Monde journalist Ariane Chemin, freelance journalist and former Moscow correspondent Paul Gogo, and French lawmakers Sacha Houlie and Arthur Delaporte. Haddad described the move as intimidation and said France would not be deterred.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also addressed the dispute. He linked Russia’s decision to France’s earlier expulsion of Xenia Fedorova, a former head of RT France who was accused by French authorities of spreading Russian misinformation. Barrot argued that Moscow’s explanation of the entry bans as retaliation reinforced concerns about Fedorova’s links with Russian authorities.
The planned sanctions still require formal approval by EU member states. If adopted, the measures would add to the bloc’s existing restrictions and form part of its continuing effort to limit Russia’s financial and economic capacity while supporting Ukraine.
