The offer of the EC’s new sanctions package against Russia also includes Latvia’s proposal to ban the transit of manganese ore

Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (JV) later specified on social networks that the EC has come up with the 14th sanctions package offer, including the ban on the transit of manganese ore through the EU to Russia initiated by Latvia.

The new sanctions package also provides for restrictions on the export of Russian liquefied natural gas from EU ports and the harmonization of sanctions against Belarus with those imposed on Russia, thereby strengthening the restrictive measures against both countries.

She also notes that it is still necessary to agree so that the new sanctions enter into force without delay.

“This is Latvia’s success,” said the politician, “Latvia’s voice is heard in the EU. Previously, we managed to offer an EU-level solution to limit the import of agricultural products from Russia and Belarus, now the result has also been achieved regarding the offer to ban the export of manganese ore to the aggressor country.”

In April, Latvia proposed to supplement the ban on the export and transit of raw materials with manganese ore and aluminum oxide, raw materials that could be used in military production in Russia, as part of the 14th round of EU sanctions.

Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) stated that Latvia considers EU-level solutions to be the most effective tool to limit the flow of goods, which could help Russia’s ability in the war against Ukraine.

After the beginning of Russia’s repeated invasion of Ukraine, the supplies of manganese ore needed for the weapons industry to Russia increased dramatically. Although the country has small manganese reserves, their extraction is not developed at an industrial level, so Russia relies almost entirely on manganese imports.

Preliminary data show that in 2023, Russia imported two million tons of manganese ore, which is a record amount.

Manganese ore is used in the production of high-quality steel required for gun barrels, armored vehicles and the tracks of such vehicles.

According to the information available to “Postimees” newspaper, out of two million manganese ore exported to Russia last year, almost 90% was transshipped in Estonia and Latvia.

Most of such cargoes are transshipped in the ports of Riga and Ventspils, but since last year, manganese ore has also been unloaded and stored in Sillame port before the trains go to Russia with it.

The Latvian state railway company “LDz Logistika” is one of several Latvian companies that participated in the transportation of manganese ore to Russia.

Already in 2018, the company started accepting ships carrying manganese ore from Africa. With the beginning of the repeated invasion of Russia, the volume of such cargoes increased dramatically.

Due to demand, the price of manganese has risen from US$150 before the war to US$300-350 per ton.

The EU plans to apply the 14th round of sanctions to Russia for its repeated invasion of Ukraine, a high-ranking EU official has previously stated.

The sanctions – an asset freeze in the EU – will target individuals and organizations that help circumvent EU sanctions already in place against Russia, the official said.

Sanctions will hit oil tankers transporting Russian oil, despite existing sanctions aimed at preventing this, an EU diplomat revealed.

It has already been reported that the 13th package of sanctions against Russia was adopted in February, when it was two years since Russia’s repeated invasion of Ukraine.

These sanctions targeted 106 individuals and 88 entities, including individuals involved in North Korea’s arms supply to Russia and North Korea’s defense minister.

Russia has been subject to several rounds of EU sanctions targeting various economic sectors linked to the war.

Russia has been banned from importing oil, coal, steel, gold and luxury goods, as well as sanctions against banks and other financial institutions.

Trade restrictions on so-called “dual-use goods” that can be used in the development of Russia’s defense industry are also certain.

The European Union, the United States, Japan and Canada froze about $300 billion in Russian central bank assets in 2022 following Moscow’s renewed invasion of Ukraine.

About 200 billion dollars of these funds are located in European financial institutions, mainly in the Belgian clearing house “Euroclear”.

In Washington and Europe, there are increasingly calls to create a fund to help Ukraine using frozen assets.