EU to ban Russian combatants in latest sanctions

The European Commission has adopted its 21st sanctions package against Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago.

As part of the package, Russian combatants would be banned from entering the European Union, 30 ships will be added to the list of 632 already targeted and 31 more Russian banks will also be targeted.

Member states will have several weeks to assess the sanctions before they become law.

It is understood that Aughinish Alumina, the refinery in Co Limerick, at the centre of controversy over its increased exports of alumina to Russia, was not listed in the sanctions package.

The export of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of alumina from Aughinish to Russia has gained increasing notoriety in the international media.

The allegation, first aired in March by a consortium of European media, including the Irish Times, is that alumina shipped from the plant ultimately finds its way into the weapons systems that Russia has used to kill tens of thousands of civilians in Ukraine.

The company has argued that it complies with EU sanctions, but because alumina has not yet been sanctioned, that defence has failed to satisfy sceptics, including a growing number of Irish MEPs who are facing questions from some of their colleagues in Brussels.

Yesterday, a spokesperson for Ms Kallas said the issue will be discussed as a matter of concern when she meets the Taoiseach in Dublin.

However, the European Commission has decided not to include alumina exports to Russia, nor to list the refinery itself in its latest sanctions.

It is understood that senior officials and several member states believe a deeper assessment is needed to ensure that sanctioning the company, which provides Europe with more than 30% of its alumina needs, might cause more harm to the EU than to Russia.

Taoiseach to discuss EU presidency with Kaja Kallas

Ahead of the visit by Ms Kallas to Dublin, Mr Martin said they would be discussing the EU presidency and Ireland's objectives for the six-month period.

The Taoiseach has been visiting heads of state in recent weeks as Ireland prepares to take on the role as president of the EU Council from July.

For six months, Ireland will take responsibility for planning and chairing EU Council meetings and negotiations, and representing the council in discussions with the European Parliament and European Commission.

About 30,000 delegates will visit Ireland over the six-month period, with meetings taking place over four-and-a-half months when the breaks over August and the Christmas period are excluded.