EU curbs on washing machines that Russia uses to repair tanks

THE European Union is considering a round of trade sanctions for countries that are helping Russia acquire washing machines and used cars that it strips to repair its battle-stricken fleet of tanks.

Officials monitoring trade with Moscow have noticed a significant trade in consumer goods between the bloc and the Kremlin’s allies in central Asia.

It is feared that the routes, which have seen a rise in activity of between 60 and 80 per cent, are used by Russia to circumvent the implementation of Western sanctions designed to impede its war campaign.

Many of the goods being shipped contain so-called “dual-use” technologies, which have both military and civilian applications, that are on a list of items prohibited for export to Russia.

European capitals are discussing plans to punish countries involved in assisting Moscow dodge the measures, according to a confidential paper seen by The Daily Telegraph. The proposal could result in any country, business or individual being restricted from accessing the Single Market if there evidence emerges that they have re-exported banned goods to Russia.

“We should give a strong signal to persons and entities in third states,” the confidential paper states.

“The provision of material support to Russia’s military and defence industrial base will have severe consequences regarding their access to the EU market.”

Officials have noted that it is mainly washing machines, second-hand cars and cameras that are among the items leaving the EU for the likes of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

It is thought that many of the goods are being stripped down, and the semiconductors and other components being used to rebuild Russia’s tanks, armoured vehicles and surveillance drones that have been damaged in Ukraine. A senior diplomatic source said: “This is a huge problem.a massive part of that sanction fabric is being undermined.”

The majority of shipments leaving the EU head to Belarus, via the land border with Lithuania, before re-exported to central Asia.

Officials are able to track the export declarations as far as the bloc’s external border before the shipments effectively disappear and are possibly moved into Russia. Poland has shut the frontier in order to close the loophole, but the route between Lithuania and Minsk is still open.

In private talks, Vilnius has complained that 97 per cent of the trade through its border with Belarus has come from other member states.

The eastern capital is amongst 19 member states that have endorsed the restrictions. Under the plan, the bloc would first seek diplomatic talks with central Asian countries to warn them of the consequences.