Ukraine expects 19th EU sanctions package to target Russian banks and shadow fleet

"The European Union has extended personal sanctions against Russians, without removing from this list any Russian oligarch or any Russian criminal. And such risks, unfortunately, existed. Now this has happened. And we are grateful to our European partners for their solidarity, for their firm decision," said Sybiha.

He noted that this is exactly the kind of response that should be given today after such provocation and escalation by Russia.

"Next comes the 19th package. Work is proceeding quickly. I remind you that only recently the 18th package was adopted. I was invited to take part online in a meeting that took place in Copenhagen under the chairmanship of Denmark. An informal meeting of foreign ministers. And there the issue of filling the 19th package was discussed," the Foreign Minister said.

According to him, the new sanctions should concern all those who help Russian President Vladimir Putin continue the war. They should be aimed at blocking all ways of circumventing sanctions.

"They should be directed against Russia's banking infrastructure. They should concern, but already in more detail, more focused, the shadow fleet. In our opinion, an important element should be the sanctioning of ports. Russian ports, from which this oil is taken and then transported. The same Baltic Sea," Sybiha noted.

He emphasized that more than 70% of the flow of Russian oil goes through the Baltic Sea.

"I believe that our partners also have significant potential here to strengthen control over this flow of the shadow fleet. Well, and what is also extremely important is synchronization. Synchronization of European sanctions with the firm sanctions policy of the American side. That is, this should be a strong, transatlantic sanctions package, and we hope and expect this," the minister stressed.

The Foreign Minister clarified that he means secondary sanctions.

"They can be called tariffs, but we must stop allowing countries that today receive huge revenues, bloody revenues, bloody money from importing Russian oil, and we know very well these countries," Sybiha said.

EU sanctions against Russia

The EU has already approved 18 packages of sanctions against Russia following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and is working on the 19th package of measures.

The European Union has imposed sanctions on more than 2,500 individuals and legal entities from Russia, including the country's leadership, senior officials, businessmen and oligarchs, propagandists, as well as employees and companies from the military, space, chemical, and energy sectors.

The EU extends the current sanctions every six months, which requires a unanimous decision by all 27 member states.

However, recently Hungary has obstructed the automatic extension of sanctions, after Prime Minister Viktor Orbán received backing from US President Donald Trump.

According to media reports, the European Commission is preparing to present the 19th package of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday, September 17.