EU’s 19th sanctions package strengthens measures to restrict Russia’s warfare capability
The European Union has adopted its 19th package of sanctions to step up its responses to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia has demonstrated no willingness to negotiate for a just and lasting peace. The EU expands its sanctions against the energy and financial sectors and Russia’s shadow fleet and adds measures to prevent the circumvention of sanctions. It bans imports of Russian liquefied natural gas into the EU as of 1 January 2027 and restricts the movement of Russian diplomats across the EU. In addition, the EU tightens its sanctions against Belarus.
The European Union adds sanctions against Russia, especially in view of Russia’s continued and escalating aggression against Ukraine, and in particular its recent brutal military campaign. The military operations are deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including energy, water and health facilities, which causes severe suffering to the civilian population and which aims to undermine Ukraine’s resilience.
The EU extends the criteria for listing individuals to include those involved in the forcible transfers of Ukrainian children. The EU broadens the scope of individual sanctions to include Russian officials who have participated in the placement of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children and those who support or benefit from the Russian government. In addition, sanctions are targeted at individuals, entities and bodies that have facilitated the illegal annexation of Ukrainian regions into Russia and at companies that have supported Russian armed forces and arms industry.
The EU tightens its sectoral sanctions by expanding the export ban list with the Russian military-industrial sector, or persons or entities supporting it in Russia and third countries, and by increasing sanctions against Russia’s special economic zones. The EU adds to the export ban list new items which might contribute to Russia’s military and technological enhancement and to the development of its defence and security sector. Items necessary for the development of Russian weapons systems and the industrial sector are added to the list.
The EU introduces a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the EU, starting on 1 January 2027. The ban on imports will take effect gradually. The EU also extends its sanctions against Gazprom Neft and Rosneft. The EU imposes additional sanctions on the shadow fleet, which Russia uses for energy transport and expands the transaction ban on ports and locks.
The EU expands its sanctions on the Russian System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS) and the sanctions on financial and crypto-asset service providers in third countries to include in particular entities that provide payment services. The EU imposes restrictions on the provision of crypto-asset services to Russian individuals, entities or bodies.
The EU restricts the movement of Russian diplomats and their family members across the EU. It expands the ban on providing insurance for Russian aircraft.
The EU makes prior authorisation mandatory for all services provided to the Russian government. It continues to urge EU businesses to exit Russia and extends the derogation for divestment. The EU strengthens the legal remedies available to Member States in investor-state disputes.
The EU also extends the sanctions regime linked to the internal situation in Russia.
In addition, it sharpens the sanctions against Belarus and harmonises them with those against Russia by extending the scope of the export ban list, the transit ban list and by tightening export control, among other measures.
The content of the 19th EU sanctions package is described in more detail in the appendix (PDF).
Links to the Council Decision and Regulation on changes to sanctions against Russian individuals:
- Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2036
- Council Regulation (EU) 2025/2037
- Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2035
Links to the Council Decision and Regulation on changes to sectoral sanctions against Russia:
Links to the Council Decision and Regulation on expanding sanctions against Belarus:
Inquiries:
- Pia Sarivaara, Sanctions Coordinator, Unit for Sanctions, tel. +358 295 350 660
- The email addresses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are in the format [email protected]