The Council of the European Union today renewed the EU restrictive measures in view of Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and illegal military aggression against Ukraine for a further six months, until 31 July 2025.
These economic measures, first introduced in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea, were significantly expanded following the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
They currently consist of a broad spectrum of sectoral measures, including restrictions on trade, finance, energy, technology and dual-use goods, industry, transport and luxury goods.
They also cover: a ban on the import or transfer of seaborne crude oil and certain petroleum products from Russia to the EU, a de-SWIFTing of several Russian banks and the suspension of the broadcasting activities and licenses in the European Union of several Kremlin-backed disinformation outlets. Additionally, specific measures enable the EU to counter sanctions circumvention.
“This will continue to deprive Moscow of revenues to finance its war. Russia needs to pay for the damage they are causing,” EU High Representative Kaja Kallas wrote on X, commenting on the EU Foreign Ministers’ decision.
