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EU Sanctions List to Include Top Russian Oil Companies, Diplomat Says

The European Union put Russia's top oil producers and pipeline operators Rosneft, Transneft and Gazprom Neft on its list of Russian state-owned firms that will not be allowed to raise capital or borrow on European markets, an EU diplomat said.

EU sanctions, however, do not encompass the gas sector and in particular state-owned Gazprom, the world's biggest gas producer which is also the biggest gas supplier to Europe.

In general, the EU sanctions on raising money in the European Union for Russian companies will apply to firms that have turnover of more than 1 trillion rubles ($26.95 billion) and half of that is generated from the sale or transport of oil, the diplomat said.

EU members' governments have until 1300 GMT to object to the deal, that was reached by ambassadors of the 28 EU countries already on Friday night.

The sanctions will enter into force after being published in the official journal of the European Union, which could happen at midnight.

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