The European Union is actively working on a new, 21st package of sanctions against Russia. The primary focus is expected to be on further restricting the activities of Russia’s “shadow fleet” of tankers, which is used to circumvent the oil price cap and fund the war.
According to European diplomats and officials, the new package could be adopted in late June or early July 2026. In addition to the “shadow fleet,” restrictions will likely target Russian banks, financial institutions, defence industry companies, and firms involved in the sale of stolen Ukrainian grain.
The “shadow fleet” remains one of the Kremlin’s key sources of revenue. Despite restrictions already imposed in previous packages — including the 20th — against hundreds of vessels, Russia continues to use ageing tankers with opaque ownership structures to export oil. In the 21st package, the EU intends to intensify pressure on this scheme specifically: an expansion of vessel blacklists is expected, along with additional bans on port access and the provision of services.
European officials note that the Russian economy is in a vulnerable state with high inflation, and that now is an opportune moment to tighten sanctions. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are both advocating for a “big and tough” package.