US allies in the G7 are not ready to impose a total ban on the export of goods to Russia. Japan and the countries of the European Union are against it, the British Financial Times notes , citing sources in the countries' delegations. Diplomats say that such a measure is simply impossible to implement.
Washington invited its partners to consider introducing a total ban on exports to Russia due to loopholes in the current sanctions regime. The American administration suggested that the allies limit exports to only specific articles in the field of medicine, agriculture and other industries. The United States believed that this would significantly reduce Moscow's ability to circumvent sanctions and complicate the conduct of hostilities.
However, European and Japanese diplomats believe that a complete ban on the export of goods to Russia is simply not feasible. Moreover, European politicians fear that it will be impossible to achieve unity within the EU on this issue: the sanctions regime already provides for small exceptions for many countries, since only under such conditions it was possible to agree on 10 sanctions packages. The EU representative also said that the introduction of a total export ban could even weaken the current sanctions regime due to the possible unwillingness of some members to implement it in full.
“From our point of view, this is simply not feasible,” one of the delegates of the May G7 summit in Hiroshima told the publication.
Nevertheless, the G7 countries are not going to reduce the pressure on Russia due to a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On the contrary, G7 members are unanimous in the need to increase pressure on those countries that continue to help Russia circumvent sanctions and prevent the export of critical products to Russia, especially high-tech ones. In particular, the positions of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Russia's neighbors in Central Asia will be discussed at the summit. Also, new restrictions will be introduced against companies that help Moscow circumvent sanctions.
Officially, representatives of the US administration refused to comment on the refusal of the G7 allies from the export ban. The US National Security Council limited itself to a short comment that they "continue to actively work with allies to limit Russia's economic opportunities in connection with a full-scale invasion." For the first time, a possible expansion of restrictions on almost all exports to Russia was discussed on April 20. The initiative assumed a strict list of exceptions for goods that could still be imported into Russia. The G7 summit is due to take place in Hiroshima on May 19.