Kyiv has outlined the key objectives of the EU's 21st package of sanctions against Russia
Ukraine and its partners are preparing a new, 21st package of EU sanctions against Russia, designed to further restrict the Kremlin’s capabilities in the financial sector, energy, and military technology. The main focus is on completely isolating Russian banks, blocking schemes to circumvent restrictions via cryptocurrencies, and tightening controls on the supply of components for weapons. Separately, the expansion of targeted sanctions against businesses and individuals supporting Russia’s war economy is being considered.
This was stated by Vladislav Vlasyuk, the President of Ukraine’s Representative on Sanctions Policy, in comments to journalists, outlining the key areas of the upcoming package.
According to him, one of the main tasks will be to further exclude Russian financial institutions from the international system. Plans include expanding the list of banks subject to sanctions, as well as blocking the use of digital assets to circumvent restrictions. “We are working to strengthen technological controls and improve mechanisms for tracking weapons components to prevent dual-use goods from reaching the aggressor,” Vlasyuk emphasized.
A separate set of sanctions will target Russia’s energy sector. This involves further tightening the embargo, specifically restricting maritime exports of oil and petroleum products, which is intended to reduce key revenues for the Russian budget.
The new package also plans to strengthen control over supply chains for technologies that can be used in weapons production, in order to block even indirect channels through which they reach the Russian Federation.
In addition to economic measures, the expansion of personal sanctions is being discussed. The lists may include representatives of big business, oligarchs, and certain religious figures whom Kyiv associates with supporting Russia’s war economy. “Work will continue on personal sanctions targeting representatives of big business, oligarchs, and patriarchs who have so far avoided restrictions, despite their direct contribution to financing the Russian Federation’s military budget,” noted the presidential envoy.
On April 23, European Union countries approved the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, which imposes restrictions on 46 vessels of the “shadow fleet” and 60 entities supporting the Russian military-industrial complex. The new measures include stricter export restrictions on dual-use goods and sanctions against 20 credit and financial institutions.
