Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Union is considering a new set of sanctions targeting around six Russian banks and energy firms, as part of its ongoing efforts to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to cease the fighting in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported.
The new restrictive measures might also include targeting Russia’s payment and credit card systems, crypto exchanges, and imposing additional limitations on the country’s oil trade, sources familiar with the matter indicated.
How might EU sanctions align with recent US measures?
Brussels aims to align some of its recent measures with the US, according to sources. A group of EU officials will visit Washington this week to meet with US counterparts and explore possibilities for joint action.
“We are prepared to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our partners in Europe to follow,”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview. The US and Europe are considering new sanctions and secondary tariffs on Russia, with the hope that a Russian economic “collapse” will lead Putin to engage in peace talks with Ukraine, he noted.
What effect will curbs on shadow vessels have on oil?
The EU’s newest set of restrictions would expand sanctions on Russia’s shadow vessels and oil traders in third countries, and may also include a ban on reinsuring designated tankers, according to sources.
The EU is also exploring stricter sanctions on key Russian oil companies by eliminating existing exemptions that companies like Rosneft currently benefit from.
Other measures being considered include visa restrictions, port restrictions related to sanctioned shadow vessels, and sanctions on services like artificial intelligence with military implications, as well as the individuals added.
It is also considering export bans on additional goods and chemicals used by Moscow’s military industry, along with trade restrictions on foreign companies, including those in China, that supply these items.
How might Kazakhstan be targeted under anti-circumvention rules?
Additionally, sources indicated that the EU is considering using its “anti-circumvention tool” against Kazakhstan for the first time. The country would be banned from importing certain machines, which, according to the bloc’s trade data, are still being heavily diverted to Russia and used in weapon production, according to sources.
How do proposed sanctions compare to eu’s 18th package?
The European Union presented its 18th sanctions package against Russia on July 18, 2025. The package was formally published on July 19, 2025, with most asset freeze measures coming into effect on July 19 and other sanctions taking effect on July 20, 2025. It introduces an additional emphasis on Russia’s energy revenues; introduces measures aimed at Russia’s banking sector and military-industrial complex; and introduces new measures against Belarus.
