EU plans expanded Russia sanctions over war in Ukraine

Brussels, Belgium. The European Union plans to significantly expand sanctions against Russia in the coming months over its war in Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told German newspaper Die Welt.

Kallas said the proposed measures, if adopted, would increase the total number of sanctioned Russian entities by a third and maintain pressure on Moscow to end the war.

Proposed listings

Kallas said EU sanctions had already cost Russia more than €1 trillion ($1.16 trillion) by depriving its war machine of resources.

She said she would put forward the most far-reaching sanctions listings since the start of the war in the autumn, without providing details or a specific timetable.

EU diplomatic sources told Reuters that the European External Action Service, which Kallas leads, would propose sanctions against about 1,600 Russian individuals and entities, focusing on Moscow’s military-industrial complex.

The measures would include travel and transaction bans and asset freezes. The EU has already sanctioned nearly 3,000 people and companies.

Timeline and approval

The EEAS is expected to present the new list to EU countries in early September, with the aim of adopting it in October, the sources said.

The listings are not expected to include sectoral measures, which fall under the European Commission’s authority, in an effort to speed up adoption.

EU sanctions require unanimous approval. Previous packages combining sectoral restrictions and individual listings have often faced lengthy negotiations.

During talks on the latest 21st sanctions package, Greece raised concerns over a forthcoming ban on Russian liquefied natural gas transfers. The package was approved in July and imposed restrictions on Russia’s banking sector and cryptocurrency networks.

Further measures

The EEAS also expects to propose further sanctions in September against people involved in trafficking Ukrainian children under a human rights violations framework.

Later in the autumn, it plans additional listings linked to Russia’s hybrid activities, including cyberattacks and misinformation campaigns.