Today, the Council renewed the EU’s restrictive measures in response to the Russian Federation’s continued actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine for a further six months, until 31 July 2026.
These economic measures, first introduced in 2014, were significantly expanded after February 2022 in response to Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
They comprise a wide range of sectoral restrictions covering trade, finance, energy, technology and dual-use goods, industry, transport and luxury goods. The measures also include a ban on the import or transfer of seaborne crude oil and certain petroleum products from Russia to the EU, the exclusion of several Russian banks from the SWIFT system, the suspension of broadcasting activities and licences of Kremlin-backed disinformation outlets within the EU, and targeted provisions to counter sanctions circumvention.
As long as the Russian Federation continues to violate fundamental principles of international law, including the prohibition on the use of force, the EU considers it appropriate to maintain these measures and to adopt additional ones where necessary. The legal framework for these measures was established with the adoption of Council Decision 2014/512/CFSP on 31 July 2014.
Beyond economic sanctions, the EU has implemented additional restrictive measures in response to Russia’s actions against Ukraine. These include restrictions on economic relations with the illegally annexed Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as with the non-government-controlled areas of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions; individual sanctions such as asset freezes and travel bans targeting numerous individuals and entities; and diplomatic measures.
Since 24 February 2022, the EU has adopted 17 unprecedented and wide-ranging sanctions packages in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In its conclusions of 19 December 2024, the European Council reiterated its firm condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression, describing it as a clear violation of the UN Charter. It reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and its commitment to providing sustained political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic assistance for as long as necessary. Russia must not prevail.
The European Council also reaffirmed its support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law, in line with Ukraine’s Peace Formula, and underlined that no initiative concerning Ukraine should be taken without Ukraine’s involvement. To this end, the EU and its member states will continue their global diplomatic outreach and participate in discussions affecting Europe’s security.
The European Union remains ready to increase pressure on Russia, including through the adoption of further sanctions.