The European Commission has welcomed the adoption by EU Member States of the 21st package of sanctions against Russia. The package tightens restrictions across energy, financial services, crypto, trade and Russia's military-industrial complex, while also creating the legal basis for a future visa ban on Russian combatants and ex-combatants once the Council takes a further decision. It also adds 218 new listings, comprising 48 individuals and 170 entities, and expands anti-circumvention action with 51 additional entities linked to Russia's military-industrial base or sanctions evasion. The measures include a one-year suspension, until July 2027, of the oil price cap adaptation agreed in the 18th package, broader transaction bans on Russian ports, airports, refineries and oil traders, and new LNG-related controls, including a notification requirement for LNG tanker sales to third countries. On enforcement, 41 more vessels were added to the shadow fleet list, taking the number already sanctioned from 632 higher, and the listing criteria were widened to cover ships servicing those vessels, including five bunkering vessels. Financial measures expand transaction bans to more third-country banks and Russian banks, bringing the total number of Russian banks subject to these bans to more than 100, and pair those restrictions with a prohibition on using financial messaging services. The package also introduces a dedicated third-country ban for crypto-asset services, adds more third-country crypto platforms and crypto-linked firms to transaction bans, and extends the prohibition on Russian nationals owning, controlling or serving on the boards of crypto-asset service providers. The package also introduces legal protection measures for EU operators against retaliatory lawsuits linked to sanctions, including the ability to seek damages in EU courts and a requirement that Member States not recognise or enforce Russian decisions linked to sanctions. Next steps remain on several elements: the Kulevi refinery listing will take effect after six months, the Commission will assess within three months whether a full ban on LNG tanker sales to Russia should follow, and the Council will decide when the combatant visa ban enters into force after the necessary implementing measures are in place.
European Commission2026-07-23
European Commission welcomes 21st Russia sanctions package, adding 218 listings and tougher banking and crypto curbs
The European Commission welcomed the EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia, which tightens restrictions on energy, banking, crypto, trade and the military-industrial complex. The package adds 218 listings, extends transaction bans to more than 100 Russian banks and introduces new crypto and shadow fleet measures. It also creates the basis for a future EU visa ban on Russian combatants and ex-combatants, subject to further Council action.