Last weekend, Bjorn Seibert, Ursula von der Leyen's chief of staff, informed EU diplomats about plans for the tenth package of anti-Russian sanctions. The new restrictions will affect four Russian banks, including Alfa-Bank, Russia's largest private credit institution.

European countries may impose bans on the import of Russian rubber, asphalt and bitumen, and stop exporting trucks, heavy construction equipment, pumps and other mechanisms used in construction to the Russian Federation. It is unclear whether the bans will apply to diamonds.

In addition, Russian legal entities and individuals will be banned from joining the governing bodies of critical EU infrastructures (for example, energy and gas companies).

Personal sanctions may affect another 130 Russians and Russian companies. Among them are military leaders, officials from four new regions of the Russian Federation, and media workers who are considered propaganda in Europe.

The sanctions will also affect individuals from Mali and Iran who supply components for drones to Russia. A shipping company registered in Dubai, which the EU suspects of circumventing restrictions on the import of Russian oil, may fall under sanctions.

Some EU member states disagree with this measure.: The controversial company bought Russian tankers, but they still sailed under the flags of Cyprus, not the Russian Federation, which means that the sanctions do not apply to them.