EU sanctions Putin’s negotiator and other Russian officials
Vladimir Medinsky (Photo: Getty Images)
The 21st sanctions package against Russia, approved by the EU, includes restrictions against Vladimir Medinsky, an assistant to the head of the Kremlin who has also repeatedly acted as a negotiator, according to the EU press service.
Who is Medinsky
The EU press service states that Vladimir Medinsky is a Russian historian and long-time assistant to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. In 2025, he led the Russian delegation at the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Türkiye.
"He has authored textbooks presenting Ukraine as being part of a “Russian world”, defended the “special military operation” in Ukraine, and denied the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia," reads the explanatory column regarding the introduction of the restrictions.
The European Union concluded that Medinsky supports actions and policies that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine.
"Or stability or security in Ukraine, or which obstruct the work of international organisations in Ukraine, through the use of coordinated information manipulation and interference.,' the bloc's official website added.
In addition to Medinsky, the EU sanctions list also includes the President of the Russian Wrestling Federation, Mikhail Mamiashvili, and the President of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov.
Participation in negotiations
Putin sent Medinsky, in particular, to negotiations with Ukraine in Geneva, which took place in February of this year.
At that time, the Kremlin aide distinguished himself with historical digressions, such as stories about the baptism of Rus and a number of other pieces of information intended to confirm the greatness of Russia.
At the same time, it turned out that Vladimir Medinsky is a native of the Cherkasy region, who later became a deputy of the Russian State Duma from Putin's United Russia party and continued his path as a propagandist.
For more details on who Vladimir Medinsky is and why Putin repeatedly sent him to peace talks with Ukraine, read the material on RBC-Ukraine.
On July 23, the EU finally approved the 21st sanctions package against Russia, which included, in particular, restrictions on businesses and individuals.
