HomeNewsWhat's in the EU's 20th package of sanctions against Russia?

What's in the EU's 20th package of sanctions against Russia?

4/22/2026

EU envoys are poised to adopt a 20th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine with Slovakia and Hungary expected to drop their opposition to the move following the repair of the Druzhba oil pipeline, EU diplomats said.

The EU had initially aimed to adopt the package to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Here are the key elements of the measures waiting to be cleared, based on a draft version seen by Reuters and revised details shared by EU diplomats:

OIL AND GAS RESTRICTIONS

  • Full maritime services ban on Russian crude and refined products agreed, but no decision on implementation until after coordination with G7
  • Ban on services - technical, financial or brokering - on Russia-flagged icebreakers and LNG tankers starting from April 25, 2026
  • Ban on services for foreign-owned icebreakers and LNG tankers operating in Russia starting from January 1, 2027
  • Ban on providing LNG terminal services directly or indirectly to Russian entities that are more than 50% controlled by a Russian citizen or entity in Russia

PORT RESTRICTIONS, SHADOW FLEET

  • Transaction bans with the Indonesian oil port at Karimun and two Russian ports - Murmansk and Tuapse
  • Adds 46 vessels in Russia's shadow fleet, taking the total to over 600 vessels
  • Ban on direct and indirect tanker sales to Russian entities and any tanker sales must include a clause banning resales to Russian entities or use in Russia

ASSET FREEZE LISTINGS

  • 120 individuals and entities were added to the sanctions list that includes a travel ban, full transaction ban and asset freeze
  • 56 designations related to Russia's military industrial complex including 17 in third countries - China, UAE, Belarus and Central Asia
  • 36 listings relate to Russian energy and Russia's shadow fleet

RUSSIAN OIL RELATED LISTINGS

  • Seven Russian refineries: Tuapse, Komsomolsk, Angarsk, Achinsk, Ryazan, Afipsky and Lukoil's plant in Usinsk
  • Two listed Russian oil producers: Bashneft and Slavneft
  • UAE-based firms linked to the shadow fleet and subsidiaries of Russia's Rosneft and Gazprom

BANS ON CRYPTO, BANKS, CIRCUMVENTION

  • Transaction bans on an additional 20 Russian banks and third-country lenders for enabling sanctions circumvention in Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Azerbaijan and Armenia
  • Kyrgyzstan is the first country hit by the EU's anti-circumvention tool. The package bans EU sales of metal cutting machines and communications machines for voice, image and data transmissions like modems and routers to the Central Asian country

NEW BANS RELATED TO RUSSIAN EXPROPRIATIONS, LEGAL CLAIMS

  • The package introduces clauses that will enable the EU to ban direct or indirect business with any company or person outside the EU that tries to enforce Russian legal claims except for humanitarian purposes
  • Further, the package will allow the EU in future to ban transactions with Russian companies that benefit from "temporary management" or expropriation of EU assets under Russia's counter-sanctions rules and that use EU companies' intellectual property
  • EU companies can sue for damages in EU courts caused by Russian claims enforced in third country courts

IMPORT BANS ON METALS, CHEMICALS

  • Metals including nickel bars, iron ores and concentrates, unrefined and processed copper, and various scrap metals including aluminum
  • Materials such as salt, ammonia, pebbles, silicon and furskins

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