European Union envoys are due Thursday to approve a ban on Russian coal imports that will take effect from mid-August, a month later than originally proposed, Reuters reported, citing a source in the EU. The decision came after pressure from Germany to delay the introduction of the measure.

The phasing out of Russian coal imports to the EU is the cornerstone of the fifth round of sanctions against Russia.

Once approved, this will be the first EU ban on energy imports from Russia since the start of the Ukrainian crisis.