Inside the EU’s 20th Sanctions Package on Russia

The new measures hit Russia’s oil exports, financial system, crypto activity, and military‑industrial complex as Brussels steps up pressure over the war in Ukraine. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied G7 leaders' family photo, June 17, 2025: G7 Leaders stand before the Rocky Mountains for a group photo. From left to right: António Costa, President of the European Council; Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan; Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy; Emmanuel Macron, President of France; Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada; Donald Trump, President of the United States; Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany; Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. (Photo by Government of Canada) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google The European Union has adopted its 20th package of sanctions against Russia , further weakening Moscow’s war economy and increasing pressure to end its aggression against Ukraine , the European Commission reported. On Wednesday, the European Commission added 120 individuals and entities to the sanctions regime and introduced multi‑layered restrictions targeting Russia’s energy revenues, financial system, military‑industrial complex, trade, and propaganda networks. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . A central focus of the package is the Russian energy sector, with 36 new listings covering oil exploration, extraction, refining, and transport. The EU also expanded measures against the Kremlin’s shadow fleet, adding 46 vessels to the sanctions list, bringing the total number of sanctioned ships to 632. For the first time, the EU also listed a third‑country port, the Karimun oil terminal in Indonesia , alongside the Russian ports of Murmansk and Tuapse , for their role in circumventing the oil price cap. New safeguards were introduced on tanker sales, including mandatory “no‑Russia” clauses and due‑diligence requirements. The package lays the groundwork for a future maritime services ban on transporting Russian crude oil and petroleum products, to be coordinated with the G7 and the Price Cap Coalition. In the financial sector, the EU imposed transaction bans on 20 additional Russian banks, raising the total number excluded to 70. Restrictions were also extended to financial institutions in Azerbaijan , Kyrgyzstan, and Laos; all accused of helping Russia bypass sanctions. Other Topics of Interest Dutch Intelligence: Russia Preparing for Long‑Term Confrontation Dutch intelligence faces its most severe security threat in 80 years, warning that Russia is preparing for a prolonged confrontation with Europe as pressure from China intensifies. Citing Russia’s growing reliance on cryptocurrencies for cross‑border transactions, the EU introduced a sector‑wide ban on Russian crypto‑asset service providers, prohibited transactions involving the rouble‑backed stablecoin RUBx, and banned EU support for the development of the digital rouble. The sanctions further target the Kremlin’s military‑industrial complex, with 58 companies and associated individuals listed for involvement in the production of military goods such as drones . Additional restrictions were imposed on third‑country suppliers in Belarus , China , Kazakhstan , Turkey , Uzbekistan , and the United Arab Emirates , that provide goods to Russia. The EU also activated its anti‑circumvention tool for the first time. As part of this move, 60 new entities were added to the sanctions list for supporting Russia’s war effort or helping evade restrictions. Further measures include expanded export bans on industrial goods, new import restrictions on Russian metals and chemicals, a quota on ammonia imports, stronger protections for EU companies’ legal and intellectual property rights. Efforts to counter Russian propaganda, including banning mirror websites that replicate sanctioned state media are implemented. Additionally, the package extends and aligns sanctions against Belarus, addressing its role in supporting Russia’s war of aggression. Veronika Sukhanych is a political analyst with a foundation in governance, legal research, and international policy. Kyiv-born and educated in comparative politics, her background includes research on global financial institutions, responsible AI governance, and security policy.