EU extends Russia sanctions for full year in unprecedented move
The 21st sanctions package against Russia is next in line (photo: Getty Images)
European Union leaders agreed to extend sanctions against Russia for another 12 months, marking the first time the bloc has renewed the measures for a full year rather than the usual six-month period, according to the Kyiv Independent.
The decision was made during a European Council summit in Brussels, which began with the participation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and continued among European Union leaders.
European Council President spokesperson Maria Tomasik said that European Union leaders approved conclusions on Ukraine and agreed to extend sanctions against Russia for another year.
The sanctions target key sectors of the Russian economy and have been repeatedly renewed since Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea in 2014.
The European Union gradually expanded these measures over the years, significantly strengthening them in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Until now, the sanctions had been renewed every six months, requiring unanimous approval from all European Union member states.
As the media outlet notes, switching to a 12-month renewal period reduces the frequency of politically sensitive negotiations over sanctions. In recent years, former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán repeatedly threatened to delay or block sanctions renewals, using the renewal process to pressure other European Union governments for concessions.
This move sets a new precedent for the European Union, which has maintained and regularly expanded sanctions against Russia throughout Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The decision came just days after the European Union introduced a new round of sanctions targeting Russian energy revenues, the military-industrial complex, the shadow fleet, and individuals accused of supporting Moscow's war effort and hybrid operations against Europe.
The United States is also discussing the possible reimposition of sanctions against Russia under certain conditions, as President Donald Trump himself stated.
