The European Commission is preparing to present a new, strengthened package of sanctions against Russia as early as this week. The move aims to accelerate Europe’s transition away from Russian oil and gas while simultaneously increasing pressure on India and China, which continue to import significant volumes of Russian oil, thereby supporting the Russian economy.
According to high-ranking EU officials and diplomats quoted in the Handelsblatt newspaper, the proposed sanctions will specifically target banks and refineries in India and China implicated in the trade of Russian oil. The package also intends to list additional oil tankers operating within a so-called “shadow fleet” utilized by Russia to circumvent existing sanctions.
Furthermore, the Commission plans to make it more difficult to issue visas to Russian citizens. A key aspect of the proposed measures includes bringing forward the timeline for a complete ban on the import of Russian oil and gas, with a targeted end date now set for mid-2027.
The unveiling of the 19th EU sanctions package was preceded by an unexpected delay. The postponement was followed by a recent telephone conversation between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump, after which a commitment to pursue stricter sanctions was publicly declared.