The European Commission just unveiled its 19th package of sanctions against Russia, sending it to EU member states for approval. This comes after a one-week delay, driven by strong pushes from the United States to ramp up the pressure.
“We can confirm that the commission has adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia, the 19th package,” said European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho during a Friday press conference in Brussels.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shared details on social media platform X after a phone call with US President Donald Trump. The measures aim straight at Russian banks, crypto assets, and energy imports. With Europe still relying on Russia for about 19% of its gas—mostly through the TurkStream pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments—the EU is now talking about speeding up a full ban on Russian LNG.
Over the weekend, Trump urged European allies to stop buying any remaining Russian oil. He even floated the idea of G7 and NATO countries slapping tariffs on nations that help Russia export its energy, saying it would hit Moscow’s economy hard.
Von der Leyen added that the commission plans to fast-track the end of Russian fossil fuel imports, originally set for January 1, 2028. Officials delayed the package’s rollout last week to coordinate with a high-level EU visit to Washington. They stress a careful rollout to dodge energy price spikes or shortages across the bloc.
Experts like former Munich Security Conference Chairman Christoph Heusgen are calling on the EU to lean harder on holdouts like Hungary and Slovakia. Hungary gets around 60% of its oil from Russia, while Slovakia depends on it for about 75% of its energy needs.
Ukraine is pushing for quick approval and even stronger steps. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted on X this week that “coordinated steps across the Atlantic” are key to cutting off Russia’s war funding. “Now the focus must be on making the 19th package even tougher,” he said.
Russia, meanwhile, brushes it off. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told reporters Friday that threats from Washington and Brussels “have no effect and will not change anything.” She slammed the EU’s energy shift as “suicidal sabotage,” warning it would wear out the bloc.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has rolled out 18 sanctions packages hitting finance, tech, and energy sectors. This latest one could strain the bloc’s unity as US demands grow for quicker, wider action.
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