The European Union has approved its 19th sanctions package against Russia, tightening the squeeze on Moscow’s war-financing apparatus by targeting energy, finance, technology, and crypto flows.
The package imposes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports into the EU from 1 January 2027 for long-term contracts, with short-term agreements barred within six months. It also intensifies measures against Russian oil giants Rosneft and Gazprom Neft.
In a worrying expansion, the EU has blacklisted 117 additional “shadow fleet” tankers, vessels that help Russia bypass Western oil-price caps, bringing the total to 557 banned ships. It is estimated that up to 1,400 such vessels may still be operating.
Beyond energy, the UK-style clampdown extends into finance and digital assets. The EU sanctioned the developer and issuer of the ruble-pegged stablecoin A7A5, as well as the trading platform handling large volumes of it, describing the coin as “a prominent tool for financing activities supporting the war of aggression”.
The package also prohibits EU engagement with Russia’s national payment card system and fast-payment system, and slaps transaction bans on eight foreign banks and traders accused of sanctions-evasion, and five additional Russian lenders.
Diplomatic measures are also introduced: Russian diplomats now must notify or gain prior authorization before travelling within the Schengen zone, as part of efforts to curb intelligence- and destabilisation-related activity.
Export controls have been widened to include microelectronics, key metals, acyclic hydrocarbons and a new prior-authorisation regime for all services to the Russian government, including AI, quantum computing and space-based services.
In her remarks, EU foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas said: “Every euro we deny Russia is one it cannot spend on war.”
The move reflects Europe’s intent to intensify pressure on Moscow and to tighten the net around its global revenue-and-supply chains. The EU said this package will not be the last.