Ukraine, 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia. Von der Leyen: “Only language Moscow understands”

Brussels – Energy, financial services, trade and, for the first time, a specific crackdown on tax avoidance with a mechanism never before activated: the twentieth package of European Union sanctions against Russia is on its way. The announcement was made by Ursula von der Leyen. In a statement, the President of the European Commission recalled that ‘Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine will soon reach 1,500 days” and that, “over the past year, Russian forces have advanced on average between 15 and 70 metres per day,” with a casualty rate that is “the highest recorded in any military offensive since the Second World War,” despite having conquered “only about 0.8 per cent of Ukrainian territory.” And while “Ukraine continues to defend itself with extraordinary courage on the battlefield, the Kremlin is doubling down on war crimes, deliberately targeting civilian homes and infrastructure. Energy facilities and heating systems have all been targeted, leaving entire communities without electricity in freezing temperatures.” For von der Leyen, this is not the behaviour of “a state seeking peace”, but rather of “a nation waging a war of attrition against an innocent civilian population”. 

A few days before the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion, Brussels intends, on the one hand, to reconfirm its support for the attacked country and, on the other, to increase pressure on the Kremlin to sit down “seriously” at the negotiating table by targeting sectors such as energy, financial services, and trade. “Russia continues to respond to diplomacy with missiles. We are determined to make this choice painfully costly,” commented Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on X. “Today we are presenting our 20th package of sanctions, which are seriously damaging the Russian economy. And every sanction reduces its capacity for war,” added the EU’s top diplomat. “Moscow is not invincible. On the battlefield, its army is at a standstill. At home, its economy is in crisis. Increased pressure, together with our partners, and increased military support to Ukraine can shorten this war,” she stressed.

Energy measures

The twentieth package follows in the footsteps of the previous nineteen, targeting energy, financial services, and trade in particular. “With regard to energy, we are introducing a total ban on maritime services for Russian crude oil,” explained von der Leyen, stressing that “this will further reduce Russia’s energy revenues and make it more difficult to find buyers for its oil.” Furthermore, since “maritime transport is a global activity, we propose to implement this total ban in coordination with like-minded partners, following a decision by the G7.” Another 43 ships will be added to the shadow fleet, “for a total of 640,” and “generalised bans on the provision of maintenance and other services for LNG tankers and icebreakers” are being added to further damage gas export projects.” This measure “complements our ban on LNG imports agreed in the 19th package and the RepowerEU regulation.” 

Banking and trade squeeze 

The new package includes “a second set of measures to further restrict the Russian banking system and its ability to create alternative payment channels to finance economic activity.” Another 20 Russian regional banks are being added to the list of those considered to be linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, “and we will adopt measures against cryptocurrencies, the companies that trade them, and the platforms that enable cryptocurrency trading, to block any possibility of circumvention.” The EU’s axe will also fall on “several third-country banks involved in facilitating the illegal trade in sanctioned goods.”

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Trade chapter: Here, “we are tightening export restrictions on Russia with new bans on goods and services, from rubber to tractors and cyber security services, worth over €360 million,” von der Leyen said. “We are introducing new import bans on metals, chemicals and essential minerals, not yet subject to sanctions, worth over €570 million,” and “other export restrictions on products and technologies used for Russia’s war effort, such as materials used for the production of explosives,” she pointed out. In addition, the package also launches “a quota on ammonia to limit existing imports.”

The Anti-circumvention mechanism

Finally, for the first time, Brussels is proposing to use the Anti-circumvention tool “to demonstrate our determination to reduce sanctions evasion,” von der Leyen clarified. The instrument prohibits “the export of computerised numerical control machines and radios to jurisdictions where there is a high risk that these products will be re-exported to Russia.” In addition, “we propose greater legal safeguards for EU companies to protect them from violations of their intellectual property rights or unfair expropriation in Russia due to abusive court rulings in relation to sanctions”. 

Brussels has imposed twenty rounds of sanctions and is calculating the damage inflicted. “Russia’s oil and gas tax revenues fell by 24% in 2025 compared to the previous year, the lowest level since 2020, widening its fiscal deficit. Oil and gas revenues in January will be the lowest since the start of the war. Interest rates stand at 16%, and inflation remains high,” the President listed. “This confirms what we already knew: our sanctions are working and we will continue to use them until Russia enters into serious negotiations with Ukraine for a just and lasting peace,” she continued. She therefore called on Member States to “quickly approve” the new sanctions because “this would send a strong signal ahead of the sad fourth anniversary of this war: our commitment to a free and sovereign Ukraine is unwavering. Indeed, it grows stronger day by day, month by month, year by year.” 

Meanwhile, Brussels is sending “hundreds of generators to keep heating and lights on in homes, hospitals and shelters,” and yesterday the EU Council approved the €90 billion loan for Kyiv, “giving it the means to defend itself and remain strong under relentless Russian attacks.” On the negotiating front, “together with the United States and the Coalition of the Willing, we are pursuing a peace plan that includes solid security guarantees for Ukraine. And with our US partners, we are developing a plan for Ukraine’s post-war recovery and long-term growth: a single, unified Prosperity Framework,” von der Leyen said, claiming that “the only common thread” of the efforts is “a shared goal, a firm conviction: the security, prosperity and free future of Ukraine are at the heart of our Union.” 

But the situation remains unchanged. “While important peace talks are underway in Abu Dhabi, we must be clear-headed: Russia will only sit down at the negotiating table with genuine intentions if it is pushed to do so. This is the only language Russia understands. That is why we are stepping forward today” with the twentieth sanctions package