EU tightens sanctions with a significant 20th sanctions package

EU tightens sanctions with a significant 20th sanctions package

Russia is waging a war of aggression in Ukraine for the fifth year and has not demonstrated a genuine willingness to negotiate for a lasting peace. Russia's ruthless strikes on civilian targets highlight the need to tighten sanctions. With its 20th sanctions package, the European Union continues to increase pressure on Russia to weaken the country's ability to pursue its war of aggression against Ukraine. The EU is expanding its sanctions against the energy and financial sectors and Russia's shadow fleet, while adding measures to prevent the circumvention of sanctions. Sanctions against Belarus are also being tightened.

The EU is adding 117 new names to its sanctions list, including business persons, entities and bodies who support or benefit from the Russian Government, who have facilitated the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories into Russia and who have supported Russia's armed forces and arms industry.

The EU is sharpening its sectoral sanctions by expanding the export ban list with persons, entities and bodies that are military end-users, form part of Russia's military and industrial complex or have commercial or other links with Russia's defence and security sector or otherwise support it.

The EU is also adding new items to the list of export-banned goods that might contribute to Russia's military and technological enhancement and to the development of its defence and security sector. These include laboratory glassware, certain high performance lubricants and their additives, and energetic materials.

The list of products potentially contributing to the enhancement of Russian industrial capacities is being expanded especially with regard to raw materials. New export bans apply to chemicals, rubber, articles made of steel, tools for metal production and industrial tractors.

In addition, the EU is adding restrictions and import bans on items such as metals, chemicals and critical minerals. It is also introducing an import quota for ammonia.

Under the 20th sanctions package, the EU decided on the possibility of imposing a full ban on maritime services related to the transport of Russian crude oil and petroleum products. The introduction of the maritime services ban - intended to replace the current oil price cap - still requires a separate decision on implementation. The EU will closely coordinate the introduction of the maritime services ban with the Price Cap Coalition and the G7.

The EU is also prohibiting the provision of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal services to Russian operators. Restrictions also apply to the provision of services to LNG tankers. In addition, the EU is banning the provision of certain services to Russian ice-breakers.

To address the circumvention of sanctions in the financial sector, the EU is closing loopholes enabling sanctions circumvention. It is also extending the transaction ban on Russian and third-country credit or financial institutions. In addition, the EU is expanding the list of crypto-assets whose use in transactions is prohibited. It is also prohibited to engage with any Russian crypto-asset service provider and use platforms established in Russia that facilitate the transfer and exchange of crypto-assets.

The EU is activating the anti-circumvention mechanism established in the 11th sanctions package to address circumvention through third countries. The tool's activation means that the target country has failed to adopt sufficient measures to prevent the circumvention of EU sanctions in its territory. The mechanism is now being applied to Kyrgyzstan with the prohibition of exports of goods under two CN codes to the country. These goods include machining centres for working metal and machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus.

The EU is imposing additional sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet and operators behind the network. It is adding 46 vessels to the sanctions list and expanding the listing criterion for shadow fleet enablers to also target those facilitating vessels transporting mineral products.

The EU is introducing new measures to defend EU firms in sanctions-related matters. A new exemption option allows the release of frozen assets for payment of costs related to arbitral proceedings. The package allows EU firms to claim damages in the EU in case of enforcement of sanctions-related judgments in third countries.

The EU is also extending the transaction ban on ports and locks.

The prohibition of service provision will be expanded to cover managed security services.

In addition, the EU is extending the sanctions against Belarus to harmonise them with those against Russia. These extensions apply to the export ban list, the transit ban list and export control.

The content of the 20th EU sanctions package is described in more detail in the appendix (PDF).

Links to the Council Decision and Regulation on changes to individual sanctions targeting Russia

• Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/504
• Council Regulation (EU) 2026/511
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/509

Links to the Council Decision and Regulation on changes to sectoral sanctions against Russia

• Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/508
• Council Regulation (EU) 2026/506

Links to the Council Decision and Regulation on expanding sanctions against Belarus

• Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/512
• Council Regulation (EU) 2026/513
• Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2026/503
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/505