EU extends sanctions on Russia over war against Ukraine and prepares new package
Photo: Kaja Callas (Getty Images)
European Union countries have agreed to extend sanctions against Russia for another 6 months, imposed for its aggressive war against Ukraine, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
"We just extended our sanctions on Russia," she writes.
She adds that the EU is finalizing work on a 19th package of measures, considering additional restrictions on Russian oil sales, shadow oil tankers, and banks.
"We’ll keep choking off the cash for Putin’s war," Kallas says.
Extension of sanctions
The EU has approved 18 packages of sanctions against Russia since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022 and is working on a 19th package of measures.
The EU extends existing sanctions every six months, which requires a unanimous decision by the 27 member states.
Previously, this was a mere formality. However, Hungary has recently begun to obstruct the automatic extension of sanctions after far-right nationalist Viktor Orbán felt the support of his ideological ally, Donald Trump.
The European Union has imposed sanctions on more than 2,500 individuals and entities from Russia, including the country's leadership, high-ranking officials, businessmen and oligarchs, propagandists, as well as employees and companies in the military, space, chemical, and energy sectors.
The EU estimates Moscow's losses from international sanctions at $450 billion from 2022 onwards.
