EU ‘very close’ to finalising Russian diamond ban, says Belgian PM

Belgian backing for Russian diamond embargo critical as about 90% of world's diamonds pass through Antwerp

Western countries are very close" to finalising a ban on Russian diamonds from retail markets in countries that are already sanctioning Kremlin assets, the Belgian prime minister has said.

In a move that will cut off another vital source of revenue for Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine, Alexander de Croo said a year-long attempt by the European Union and G7 countries to reliably trace diamonds coming from Russia was almost complete.