EU Prepares Toughest Sanctions Against Russia

• 8.07.2025, 7:41

Details have come to light.

The European Union is preparing the toughest package of sanctions against Russia since 2022 to limit war funding. The new measures should hit Russia's oil and gas sector and financial system.

The French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced this on TF1 TV channel.

The European Union plans to impose new, record-breaking sanctions against Russia to maximize its ability to continue the war.

Barrot said this package of sanctions will be the strongest since 2022. It should directly hit the Kremlin's financial and energy resources that allow Putin to wage war. The French diplomat emphasized: Russia is not advancing on the frontline, but instead has stepped up strikes on Ukrainian cities and civilian targets, causing many civilian casualties.

The restrictions are expected to affect several key areas:

The oil and gas sector: in particular, bans on transactions through Nord Stream-1 and Nord Stream-2, a reduction in the price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel, and sanctions against the "shadow fleet" of tankers that help circumvent the restrictions.

Finance: a complete ban on transactions with 22 Russian banks also working through third countries, as well as restrictions on the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and its subsidiaries.

Barro also emphasized that the sanctions could also affect foreign companies and intermediaries that help Russia circumvent previous restrictions.

Although final agreement among EU countries has not yet been reached, European diplomats are confident that the new package of sanctions will be a serious blow to the Kremlin's financial flows. Brussels hopes it will force Putin to agree to a ceasefire and come to the negotiating table.

This is the EU's 18th package of sanctions against Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. It is meant to increase pressure on the Russian economy and reduce resources to continue the war.