Ambassadors of the 27 EU countries today adopted the new, 16th package of sanctions against Russia, which, among other things, includes a ban on the import of Russian aluminum into the Union, but not a ban on the import of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), diplomats in Brussels announced.

The new sanctions, which will be officially adopted by EU foreign ministers on Monday, include additional measures to restrict Russian oil exports, diplomatic sources said, Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported.

The latest set of sanctions also applies to exports of chemicals, chromium and other products used to make precision machinery, as well as a ban on servicing oil and gas refineries, said two EU diplomats who did not want to be named because they spoke about the topic at a meeting that was closed to the public, Politico reports.

The new sanctions also expand the blacklist against tankers belonging to Russia's "shadow fleet," which the Kremlin uses to circumvent Western restrictions on oil trade.

Despite Greece's concerns, EU countries have agreed to halt imports of Russian primary aluminum.

The import of this raw material will be allowed for some time before a complete ban takes effect.

It is noteworthy that the new round of sanctions did not include a complete ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), Politico reports.

A group of countries insisted on banning imports of this energy source, but the issue is now at a standstill because it is involved in trade negotiations that have just begun with the administration of new US President Donald Trump, so Brussels has postponed the ban on Russian LNG imports until a potential agreement is reached to purchase American liquefied gas.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced this new series of sanctions against Russia in Brussels yesterday, which is due to be officially adopted on February 24, at the next meeting of EU foreign ministers, a date that marks the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.