The European Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2032, tightening EU restrictive measures in response to Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine. The measures aim to constrain Russia’s energy revenues, broaden financial and payment-related transaction bans, and further limit access to goods and services linked to military and advanced digital capabilities. Energy measures include a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), a full transaction ban on Rosneft and Gazprom Neft relating to oil and gas imports into the EU, and an extension of the import ban to a variant of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The Decision applies restrictive measures to shadow fleet vessels and introduces transaction bans on operators enabling Russia’s energy revenue streams, expands the transaction ban to additional banks in Russia and to third-country banks in Central Asia, and adds restrictions on Russia’s Mir payment card system and SBP fast payment system. It also prohibits the use of the A5A7 cryptocurrency and introduces prohibitions on the provision of crypto services and certain fintech services, widens export restrictions and bans aimed at Russia’s military-industrial complex, targets Russia’s Special Economic Zones, blocks the provision of services giving access to advanced digital capabilities, and prohibits re-insurance services. Russian diplomats travelling across the EU beyond their country of accreditation must inform the relevant Member State in advance, and Member States may impose an authorisation requirement based on visas or residence permits issued by another state. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, and Ukraine have aligned themselves with the Decision and committed to ensuring their national policies conform to it, which the European Union noted and welcomed.

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