European Union prepares a major new sanctions package targeting Russia’s defence sector, with formal approval potentially coming as early as October.
BRUSSELS: The European Union is preparing one of its most extensive new rounds of sanctions against Russia since the war in Ukraine began, with the proposed measures aimed heavily at individuals and entities linked to Moscow’s military-industrial complex.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told German newspaper Die Welt that the planned measures would significantly increase economic pressure on Russia. EU diplomatic sources said the European External Action Service is expected to propose sanctions against about 1,600 people and entities connected to Russia’s defence sector.
The proposed designations would include asset freezes, travel restrictions and transaction bans. The EU has already imposed sanctions on nearly 3,000 Russian individuals and companies since the start of the war.
Under the current plan, the new sanctions list could be presented to EU member states in early September, with formal adoption targeted for October. The proposed package is being structured differently from broader previous sanctions rounds, with no new sector-wide restrictions expected.
That approach could help accelerate the approval process by limiting the scope for disputes among member states. EU sanctions require unanimous support, and disagreements between governments have previously delayed new measures against Moscow.
Kallas said the European Union would continue increasing pressure on Russia until Moscow ends its war in Ukraine. The planned measures therefore represent another attempt by the bloc to target Russia’s ability to sustain its military campaign while maintaining unity among its 27 member states.
The proposed sanctions come as European governments continue weighing how to increase pressure on Moscow without triggering the lengthy negotiations that have accompanied earlier packages. Their final scope and implementation will depend on discussions among EU governments in the coming weeks.
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