Key facts
- The EU approved its 21st package of sanctions against Russia after marathon negotiations.
- Greece dropped its opposition to the sanctions, which had previously centered on Russian LNG transport.
- The European Commission is reportedly set to fine Google under the Digital Markets Act for anti-competitive practices.
- Fines for Digital Markets Act violations can reach up to 10% of a company's global annual turnover.
- The US has threatened retaliation against EU digital policies and is preparing to impose new tariffs on the EU.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with US counterpart Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting.
The European Union has approved its 21st package of sanctions against Russia following extensive negotiations, with Greece ultimately dropping its objection concerning Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport. This development occurs as the EU prepares to face new US import duties and potentially retaliatory measures over digital policies targeting American tech giants.
In parallel, the European Commission is reportedly poised to impose a significant fine on Google for alleged violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The investigation focused on Google's promotion of its own services and restrictions on app developers. Such a fine could reach up to 10% of Alphabet's global annual turnover, potentially amounting to tens of billions of dollars.
This potential fine heightens transatlantic tensions, as Washington has previously accused Brussels of unfairly targeting US companies and threatened substantial tariffs. The EU's move comes as current US tariffs are set to expire, with officials indicating a readiness to accept new duties related to forced labor, provided they remain within an agreed-upon cap.
On the geopolitical front, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with his US counterpart Marco Rubio in Manila, where Rubio expressed openness to US involvement in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the challenging situation for Russian President Vladimir Putin due to frontline gains. The US also announced a framework nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, allowing future uranium enrichment.
Additionally, the European Commission rejected a controversial European Citizens’ Initiative aimed at curbing non-Western immigration, citing discrimination based on race and ethnic origin.