EU countries on Friday formally approved the fifth set of sanctions against Russia, including a ban on coal imports as of August, a ban on all transactions for four leading Russian banks (Sovkombank, Novikombank, VTB and Otkrutie) and a ban on the docking of Russian vessels in European ports.

The package also includes a set of other measures designed to increase pressure on Moscow to make it stop the aggression against Ukraine.

The sanctions were adopted after the atrocities committed by Russian troops in Bucha and other towns under Russian occupation, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said, noting that their purpose was to stop the ruthless, inhumane and aggressive conduct of Russian soldiers and send a clear message to the Kremlin that the unlawful aggression would have a high price.

The European Commission has said that it is already working on new proposals for sanctions, which could include a ban on oil imports. Apart from sanctions, the EU has stressed that reducing dependence on Russian fossil fuels is an urgent imperative.