France 'reasonably optimistic' of G7 maritime ban on Russian oil, minister says

FILE PHOTO: French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot holds a press conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon, in Beirut, Lebanon February 6, 2026. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo

MUNICH, Feb ⁠14 (Reuters) - Some G7 ⁠countries have expressed willingness ‌to move ahead with maritime services ban of Russian oil ​and France is "reasonably ⁠optimistic a deal ⁠can be reached, French ⁠Foreign Minister ‌Jean-Noel Barrot said on ⁠Saturday.

"We hope to be able ​to ‌include it in the ⁠20th (EU) sanctions ​package we are actively preparing," Barrot told ⁠reporters after a ​G7 foreign ministers meeting in Munich.

"Some of the G7 ⁠countries have expressed willingness to move forward. The jury is still ​out, but ⁠my expectations are reasonably ​optimistic," he ‌added.

(Reporting by John ​Irish, writing Leigh ThomasEditing by Bernadette Baum)