UPDATE 2: EU plans no new sanctions, Norway enacts 6th package

(Rewrites story)

BRUSSELS/MURMANSK, Jun 17 (PRIME) -- The E.U. is not preparing the seventh package of sanctions against Russia officially, but there are constant discussions in the workgroups and among the member-states, a high-ranking European official told reporters on condition of anonymity on Friday, while Norway reported enacting the sixth package.

"As for sanctions, there are always discussions in various E.U. groups and among the member-countries. We are not at a stage of official preparation of a new package, but there are discussions," the source said.

The E.U. foreign ministers plan to meet on June 20 in order to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

The Norway sanctions include prohibition on imports of oil carried by sea, a ban on technical aid and financing of oil traffic and imports, a ban on audit, accounting and financial service provision to the Russian companies and the government, and extension of the blacklist to 65 people and 18 companies.

The European source also said that the E.U. has no direct contact with Russia on grain exports from Ukraine and is relying on the U.N. efforts.

According to the source, the E.U. will lift the sanctions against Russia if the special operation in Ukraine stops, and there are no threats to the security of Ukraine or the E.U., which includes "a full stop of any attempts to create a different political reality in Donbass," the official said. He added that the last word on whether the political and national interests of Ukraine are met belongs to the authorities and people of Ukraine.

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