News item | 20-05-2025 | 15:14
On May 20, 2025, the European Union (EU) accepted a new sanction package against Russia. The sanctions are directed against the Russian shadow fleet, the Russian war industry and against companies that help Russia bypass sanctions.
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EU: Sanctions against Russia
The EU has established sanctions against Russia for the illegal invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions remain necessary to further increase the pressure on Russia. Sanctions make it more difficult for Russia to continue to pay for war.
The new sanctions in short
Measures against the Russian shadow fleet
The EU imposes extra sanctions against another 189 ships (including 183 oil tankers) that are part of the Russian shadow fleet. That is more than doubling the number of ships. These ships are involved in the circumvention of the oil ceiling or transporting stolen Ukrainian grain. With the sanctions, the ships no longer have access to European ports and services. This prohibition now applies to 342 ships.
Since the EU has introduced the oil ceiling and sanctions against the shadow fleet, the Russian income has been fell by € 38 billion. The Russian income in March 2025 were 13.7% lower than those in March 2023 and 20.3% lower than that in March 2022.
75 new people and companies on the sanction list
The EU has added 17 people and 58 companies to the sanction list, including:
- More than 45 companies involved in the Russian war industry.
- Companies from other countries, including China and Belarus, that deliver important parts for the Russian army, for example for drones.
- Surgutneftegaz, the two-largest oil exporter in Russia.
More export restrictions
The EU has also imposed new export restrictions on 31 organizations that help Russia with circumvention of sanctions. In addition, the export bans for chemicals and spare parts for machines are further expanded.
Do the sanctions against Russia have an effect?
The sanctions against Russia touch the Russian treasury. Among other things, € 300 billion from the Russian Central Bank is blocked in the EU and G7 countries. More than € 21 billion in private credits is frozen. And Russia misses around € 91 billion in exports to the EU. Money that Russia cannot use to wage war. Also read the article: Work sanctions?
Export restrictions also ensure that Russia has less and less access to high -quality technology, such as aircraft parts and computer chips.
Permanent deployment of European Union
The European Union continues to be committed to supporting Ukraine in the right to self -defense against Russian aggression. And to build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future. A Complete overview of the sanctions Can be found on the Sanction page of the EU. See also the EU timeline of sanctions against Russia.