Russia Suffers New Sanctions Squeeze as EU Follows Trump
By Robert Birsel, Shane Croucher, and John Feng
Oct 23, 2025 at 03:13 AM EDT
The European Union (EU) has approved its 19th sanctions package against Russia, including on its lucrative gas sector for the first time and its "shadow fleet," to heap pressure on Moscow to end its war on Ukraine
Why It MattersThe approval of the EU sanctions comes a day after the administration of President Donald Trump imposed fresh bans on Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, also seeking to crank up the pressure on Moscow to make peace in Ukraine.
What To KnowThe new sanctions came shortly after Trump postponed a proposed summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, intended to bring peace in Ukraine closer, when it became clear the Kremlin would not agree to a ceasefire.
The sanctions introduce the first-ever EU ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas, forbid all transactions with the energy companies Rosneft and Gazprom Neft and blacklist an additional 117 vessels from Russia's so-called shadow fleet, which Moscow uses to circumvent the price cap on Moscow's seaborne oil, the media outlet Euronews reported.
"We’re keeping the pressure high on the aggressor," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a post on X.
"For the first time we are hitting Russia’s gas sector—the heart of its war economy. We will not relent until the people of Ukraine have a just and lasting peace.
The sanctions include a range of financial measures, including some targeting foreign entities accused of enabling Russia to circumvent restrictions, including 12 in China and Hong Kong, Euronews reported.
"It [sanctions] targets Russian banks, crypto exchanges, entities in India and China, among others," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on X.
The embargoes include a mechanism that can allow EU members to curb the movement of Russian diplomats across the passport-free Schengen Area.
"The EU is curbing Russian diplomats' movements to counter the attempts of destabilization. It is increasingly harder for Putin to fund this war," Kallas said.
Members of Russian missions in the EU, including administrative and technical staff and family members, will now have to notify authorities in their host country of their intention to travel to or transit through another member state.
The European Union's diplomatic service had argued that Russian diplomats are often involved in activities that contribute to Moscow's aggression against Ukraine, Euronews reported.
The U.S. sanctions announced on Wednesday target Russia’s oil industry, designating state-linked oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil for their roles in funding the war effort in Ukraine and blocking U.S. citizens from conducting business with the companies or any subsidiaries they control. They also warn foreign financial institutions that helping Russia’s military-industrial base could trigger secondary sanctions.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the action aims to cut off revenue fueling the Kremlin’s aggression and called on Russia to “immediately agree to a ceasefire.” |
