Describing it as one of the EU’s “strongest sanctions packages to date,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized that the bloc remains firmly committed to supporting Ukraine. The latest measures include reducing the oil price cap to just under $48 per barrel—below the current market rate—to undercut Russia’s energy revenues.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the sanctions, calling them “timely and necessary” amid a renewed Russian offensive. He vowed to align Ukraine’s sanctions regime with the EU’s and implement additional restrictions on Moscow.

The UK separately targeted Russia’s military intelligence service, GRU, sanctioning 18 officers allegedly involved in a deadly 2022 bombing of a theatre in Mariupol and other covert operations. Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused the GRU of running a destabilization campaign across Europe.

In another blow to Russian energy ambitions, the EU moved to block future investment in the Nord Stream pipelines and imposed new restrictions on Rosneft’s Indian refinery. A loophole allowing indirect Russian oil exports via non-EU countries was also closed.

However, internal EU divisions slowed agreement. Slovakia initially opposed parts of the package due to its dependency on Russian gas, prompting days of negotiations. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the sluggish pace.

The EU also sanctioned 105 more ships from Russia’s shadow fleet, bringing the total to over 400 vessels barred from EU ports and services. With over 2,400 individuals and entities now targeted, the West is signaling continued pressure until Russia ends its war.

Describing it as one of the EU’s “strongest sanctions packages to date,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized that the bloc remains firmly committed to supporting Ukraine. The latest measures include reducing the oil price cap to just under $48 per barrel—below the current market rate—to undercut Russia’s energy revenues.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the sanctions, calling them “timely and necessary” amid a renewed Russian offensive. He vowed to align Ukraine’s sanctions regime with the EU’s and implement additional restrictions on Moscow.

The UK separately targeted Russia’s military intelligence service, GRU, sanctioning 18 officers allegedly involved in a deadly 2022 bombing of a theatre in Mariupol and other covert operations. Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused the GRU of running a destabilization campaign across Europe.

In another blow to Russian energy ambitions, the EU moved to block future investment in the Nord Stream pipelines and imposed new restrictions on Rosneft’s Indian refinery. A loophole allowing indirect Russian oil exports via non-EU countries was also closed.

However, internal EU divisions slowed agreement. Slovakia initially opposed parts of the package due to its dependency on Russian gas, prompting days of negotiations. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the sluggish pace.

The EU also sanctioned 105 more ships from Russia’s shadow fleet, bringing the total to over 400 vessels barred from EU ports and services. With over 2,400 individuals and entities now targeted, the West is signaling continued pressure until Russia ends its war.