EU ambassadors agree on 16th package of sanctions against Russia

European Union ambassadors have approved a new package of sanctions against Russia. This is the 16th package since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the approval of the new package of sanctions on social media, saying that the EU is further strengthening its circumvention measures, targeting more vessels from Russia's shadow fleet and introducing new import and export bans.

“We are committed to keep up the pressure on the Kremlin,” she said.

16th package of sanctions against Russia

A week ago, the European Commission began preparing new sanctions against Russia, which will be aimed at importing fossil fuels, European Commission spokesperson Paula Piño said during a briefing in Brussels.

Answering journalists' questions about the assessment of the EU sanctions against Russian energy carriers and the statement of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth regarding the possibility of forcing Russia to the negotiating table through energy sanctions, Piño said that they were working on the issue and had imposed sanctions on Russian energy since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

She clarified that these sanctions are intended to gradually reduce the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels.

Piño emphasized that, on the EU side, they had several packages and were currently discussing the 16th package, which would also affect the energy sector and contribute to the gradual cessation of their imports of fossil fuels from Russia.

EU sanctions against Russia

At the end of last year, the EU adopted the 15th package of sanctions against Russia. This time, the new restrictions affected Russia's shadow fleet and energy sector and included 54 individuals and 30 organizations from Russia, China, and North Korea.

According to Politico, Budapest agreed to concessions at the last stage but put forward its conditions.