Kallas: EU approves “one of its strongest” sanctions packages against Russia

The European Union has agreed on what it describes as one of its toughest sanctions packages against Russia to date, marking the 18th round of punitive measures since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The agreement was reached on July 18 during a meeting of the EU member states’ permanent representatives.

The latest package, which Poland had sought to pass during its term as holder of the rotating EU Council presidency (ending in June 2025), was announced by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

“The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions package against Russia to date,” Kallas stated. “We’re cutting the Kremlin’s war budget further, going after 105 more shadow fleet ships, their enablers, and limiting Russian banks’ access to funding.”

She outlined the wide scope of the new measures, which include a ban on the Nord Stream pipelines and the introduction of a lower price cap on Russian oil. The package also ramps up restrictions on Russia’s military-industrial base, as well as on Chinese financial institutions accused of facilitating sanctions evasion.

“We are putting more pressure on Russia’s military industry, Chinese banks that enable sanctions evasion, and blocking tech exports used in drones,” Kallas wrote.

In a first for the EU, the new sanctions designate a flag registry and target the largest Rosneft-owned refinery operating in India.

Kallas also highlighted the EU’s efforts to respond to human rights abuses tied to the war in Ukraine. “Our sanctions also hit those indoctrinating Ukrainian children,” she noted.

Concluding her announcement, Kallas reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to sustaining pressure on Moscow: “We will keep raising the costs, so stopping the aggression becomes the only path forward for Moscow.”

By Tamilla Hasanova