EU unveils new sanctions package against Russia after von der Leyen’s talks with Trump
The European Commission on Friday announced that it has introduced a new round of sanctions against Russia, which will now go before EU member states for approval. The latest measures are designed to further increase economic pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, following a call with U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week, said the bloc intends to accelerate the phase-out of Russian fossil fuel imports. While the EU had previously set a target date of early 2028 to eliminate these supplies, von der Leyen indicated the timeline could now be shortened.
According to AFP, the new package places particular emphasis on banning Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments into Europe. This comes on top of an existing ban on most Russian oil imports, which has already reduced Moscow’s share of EU energy supplies from nearly 30 percent in 2021 to just 2 percent by mid-2025.
Trump has pressed European leaders to act more quickly, urging an immediate halt to Russian oil purchases and hinting that he may move forward with his own punitive measures if Europe does not act first.
Alongside energy restrictions, the 19th sanctions package is expected to hit additional sectors of the Russian economy. EU officials say the measures will extend to Moscow’s “shadow tanker fleet,” digital assets such as cryptocurrency, and financial institutions in Russia, Central Asia, and China. Certain Chinese refineries and special economic zones are also likely to be included.
EU spokeswoman Paula Pinho confirmed the package’s adoption at a Brussels press briefing. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU has rolled out 18 successive sanctions rounds, ranging from asset freezes to severe limits on energy imports, all aimed at undermining the Kremlin’s ability to fund its war effort.