Washington, March 6. US and European officials met on Monday to discuss the “most effective” tools to “prevent” Russia from getting rich from the diamond trade.
At the meeting, Sanctions Coordination Office Director James O’Briend of the United States and European Commission Trade Compliance Chief Denis Redonnet spoke with traders and industry associations diamonds, the State Department reported in a statement.
The officials spoke with representatives of the private sector about “future measures aimed at the importation” of Russian diamonds, the statement said.
“The discussion has focused on the most effective and impactful ways to interrupt this flow of revenue,” the State Department detailed.
In April last year, the United States sanctioned Russian state-owned Alrosa, the world’s largest diamond mining company.
Alrosa represents an important source of revenue for Russia, since the diamond trade is one of the country’s most important exports, apart from energy, and the company has already been subject to sanctions by Canada , the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the Bahamas.
Ukraine has asked the European Union to impose sanctions against the export of Russian diamonds.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Belgium of placing more importance on continuing trade relations with Russia, and in particular the trade in diamonds via the city of Antwerp, than on vigorous action to support the fight Ukrainian. EFE
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