EU agrees on fresh sanctions against Moscow

European Union ambassadors from its 27 member states agreed on a new round of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday.

The 17th package of sanctions, which is expected to be formally approved by EU defense and foreign ministers meeting on May 20, targets some 200 Russian "shadow fleet" oil tankers. In addition, new restrictions will be imposed on 30 companies involved in the trade of dual-use goods, including some in Kazakhstan, Serbia, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates. A total of 75 individuals and entities will be listed for their links to Russia's military-industrial complex.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement on the new sanctions.

"We are further restricting access to battlefield technology. And we have listed an additional 189 shadow fleet vessels to target Russia's energy exports," she wrote on X on Wednesday, the same day that an EU court ruled she should have published text messages she exchanged with the CEO of Pfizer during the COVID-19 pandemic years.

"This war has to end. We will keep the pressure high on the Kremlin," she said.

Hungary, which has been against the EU's economic sanctions, did not oppose the measures, which are considered limited in scope.

In their Wednesday's meeting, the EU ambassadors also agreed on an export ban on chemicals used in missile production. They also agreed to impose sanctions on Russian judges and prosecutors involved in so-called human rights violations.

A spokesperson at the European Commission expressed that more sanctions might be on the way if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire.

Possible targets

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he was in favor of imposing new sanctions on Russia in the coming days if Moscow failed to agree to a ceasefire, singling out Moscow's financial services, and oil and gas as possible targets.

"Our intention is to impose new sanctions against Russia in the coming days" if Moscow refuses to implement a ceasefire, Macron said in an interview on TF1.

"We are coordinating in this regard."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz this week proposed mounting sanction pressure if Russia keeps attacking Ukraine beyond a ceasefire proposed by Monday. Merz suggested seizing frozen Russia assets.

But EU diplomats told the media that discussions on a new EU package would take several weeks and would face difficulties in securing the necessary unanimity among the 27 member states.

The EU is also working on proposals to end fossil fuel imports from Russia by the end of 2027.

Von der Leyen told the European Parliament last week that fossil fuel revenues remain a "key source of funding" for Russia's military operations in Ukraine.

A study by energy think tank Ember finds that EU imports of Russian gas jumped by 18 percent in 2024 despite intentions to phase out Russian energy. The rise was propelled by increased imports into Italy, the Czech Republic and France.