European Commission proposes 20th sanctions package against Russia, targeting energy and trade

Brussels, 6 February (ČTK correspondent) - The European Commission has proposed a new, 20th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting energy, financial services and trade. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced it today. The restrictions include, for example, a complete ban on the maritime transport of Russian oil and new import bans on metals, chemicals and critical minerals not yet covered by sanctions.

The Commission president urged member states to approve the sanctions package as soon as possible. The aim is to do so by the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on 24 February.

The European Commission is also proposing for the first time to activate its anti-circumvention tool, which means it will ban exports of any computer-controlled machinery to countries where there is a high risk that the products will subsequently end up in Russia.

"Russia's war in Ukraine will soon have lasted 1,500 days. Over the whole of last year, Russian forces advanced by an average of 15 to 70 metres a day. They captured just 0.8 percent of Ukrainian territory, despite suffering the highest casualties ever recorded in any military offensive since the Second World War," von der Leyen said.

While Ukraine is defending itself on the battlefield with extraordinary courage, the Kremlin, according to the Commission president, has doubled the number of war crimes and is deliberately attacking homes and civilian infrastructure. It is also striking energy facilities, leaving entire Ukrainian communities without electricity in freezing temperatures.

"This is not the behaviour of a state seeking peace," the European Commission president added.

Russia will come to the negotiating table only if it is forced to, she said. "That is the only language Russia understands," she added, explaining that this is why the Commission is presenting a new sanctions package.

In the energy sector, the Commission wants to introduce a complete ban on the maritime transport of Russian oil. The restrictions also target the so-called Russian shadow fleet, with another 43 vessels set to be added to the list, bringing the total to 640. These are vessels Moscow uses to circumvent sanctions on Russian oil exports.

Another set of measures concerns restrictions on the Russian banking system. "We are adding another 20 Russian regional banks to the list and will take action against cryptocurrencies, companies that trade in them, and platforms that enable cryptocurrency trading in order to prevent sanctions circumvention," the Commission said in a statement.

The third set of measures concerns further tightening export controls on Russia, with new bans on goods and services ranging from rubber to tractors and cybersecurity services, worth more than 360 million euros in total. "We are also introducing new restrictions on imports of metals, chemicals and critical minerals worth more than 570 million euros," the EU executive added.

Russia's fiscal revenues from oil and gas fell by 24 percent last year compared with 2024, according to the Commission. This is the lowest level since 2020. Interest rates are around 16 percent, while inflation remains high. "This confirms what we already knew: our sanctions are working. We will continue to use them until Russia engages in serious talks with Ukraine on a just and lasting peace," the Commission president added.