EU extends sanctions over Russia's annexation of Ukrainian Crimea until 2026
EU extends sanctions over Russia's annexation of Ukrainian Crimea until 2026 (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
The Council of the European Union has extended the sanctions imposed in response to Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea and the city of Sevastopol until 23 June 2026, according to a statement from the EU Council's press service.
The sanctions include:
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A ban on the import of products originating from the illegally annexed Crimea or Sevastopol into the EU;
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A ban on infrastructure or financial investments, as well as the provision of tourism services in Crimea and Sevastopol;
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Restrictions on the export of certain goods and technologies to Crimean companies or for use in Crimea — particularly in the areas of transport, telecommunications, and energy, as well as for oil, gas, and mineral exploration and extraction.
"The EU does not recognize and continues to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia as a violation of international law," the EU Council emphasised.
The EU first imposed sanctions over the annexation of Crimea in June 2014, and they have been extended annually ever since.
Since February 2022, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, these sanctions have been significantly expanded. Since then, the EU has adopted 17 sanction packages against Russia, with an 18th currently in preparation.
