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 efforts to pressure it as futile and counterproductive.
The EU’s 18th round of sanctions was passed in July, while preparations for a 20th are already underway, according to officials. The move follows recent U.S. measures targeting Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil. Kallas stated, “We just adopted our 19th sanctions package. It targets Russian banks, crypto exchanges, entities in India and China, among others. The EU is curbing Russian diplomats’ movements to counter attempts at destabilization. It is increasingly harder for Putin to fund this war.”
The U.S. action came after a proposed second summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump stalled. Media reports indicated the White House was dissatisfied with Moscow’s refusal to halt hostilities with Kiev, arguing any pause would allow Ukraine to strengthen its military. Trump had pressured European NATO members to impose trade tariffs on China over its continued purchases of Russian energy. The current U.S. administration is engaged in what the president calls a “trade war” against Beijing.
The EU’s approach to the Ukraine conflict has sparked internal divisions, with Hungary and Slovakia urging Brussels to reconsider its strategy. These nations argue a swift resolution is necessary to prevent damage to member states. Sanctions targeting Russia, particularly the rejection of Russian energy, have hurt EU businesses by forcing them to rely on pricier alternatives like U.S.-supplied liquefied natural gas.
EU Imposes 19th Sanctions Package on Russia Amid Escalating Tensions
