EU executive proposes new gold import ban on Russia - statement

FILE PHOTO: Newly casted ingots of 99.99% pure gold are stored after weighing at the Krastsvetmet non-ferrous metals plant, in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia November 22, 2018. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin

The European Union's executive, the European Commission, formally proposed on Friday new sanctions on Russia, including a new import ban on Russian gold.

EU governments must still sign off on the measures, expected as early as next week.

(Reporting by Marine Strauss and Robin Emmott)