EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on Friday spoke out firmly against easing sanctions on Russia, for example on its oil exports.
"It's clear that now it's not time to ease pressure on Russia. We must continue to exercise pressures, to put sanctions on Russia," Dombrovskis said on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Riga.
This is important, even if it is "no easy task" given the unanimity required within the EU, the Latvian-born official added.
However, there are initiatives from several member states regarding further trade restrictions and visa restrictions for Russian citizens, according to the commissioner.
The EU has so far imposed 20 rounds of sanctions against Russia since it launched a full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022.
