This is reported by Financial Times citing a senior EU representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Kaja Kallas.
Kallas explained that the Russian armed forces may utilize gaming consoles to operate drones.
The three largest gaming console manufacturers — the American company Microsoft and the Japanese firms Nintendo and Sony — halted sales in Russia as early as March 2022. The EU ban will target merchants supplying equipment, including used devices, to Russia.
Meanwhile, China remains the primary supplier of consoles to Russia, having sold over $120 million worth of consoles there in 2024. As noted by FT, this figure sharply increased compared to 2022, when China exported $30 million worth of consoles to Russia.
FT highlights that after Western sanctions restricted Russia's direct access to technology, the country began sourcing necessary components from household appliances. According to Western and Ukrainian intelligence, Moscow has utilized key semiconductors from refrigerators and other domestic devices for its missiles and drones.
Additionally, Kallas mentioned that the new sanctions list will include chemicals essential for the Russian military industry. New restrictions on the import of liquefied gas are also planned.
Six Northern European and Baltic countries are also advocating for a reduction in the price cap on Russian oil. The G7 has set a ceiling of $60 per barrel to diminish Russia's revenues.
Sanctions require unanimous approval from the 27 EU member states. Earlier, Hungary threatened to veto due to Ukraine's termination of the gas transit agreement. However, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto later stated that his country received guarantees from the EU regarding energy security.