The Commission announces that imports of Russian LNG must stop from early 2027, earlier than the previously targeted end of 2027. This accelerates the phase-out of Russian energy imports. This acceleration is explicitly linked to increasing pressure on Moscow.
At the same time, the 19th sanctions package is ready. The new measures focus on weaknesses revealed by earlier measures: stricter enforcement, additional export bans on war-critical technology, and closing smuggling routes that enable sanctions evasion.
An important component is tackling companies outside the EU that facilitate Russian exports or imports. The EU wants to prohibit transactions or freeze assets of 43 additional companies. This explicitly targets players in non-EU countries that directly or indirectly support the Russian war industry.
The squeeze will also tighten in the energy sector. Besides advancing the LNG ban, the package includes additional restrictions and enforcement against trade in oil products, logistics, and transport flows that evade price caps. The principle is that every euro less for Russian fossil fuels undermines military capability.
Decision-making remains politically sensitive. Unanimity is required for new EU sanctions. Earlier, Hungary and Slovakia in particular opposed due to their strong dependence on Russian energy and previously granted exemptions on oil restrictions. The European Commission expects rapid agreement, but it remains uncertain whether all member states will immediately join.
Reportedly in Brussels, Hungary is preparing to release over 500 million euros in EU subsidies that it had previously withheld because the country does not comply with European rules on transparency and democracy. The European Parliament believes that EU Commissioners should financially penalize Hungary, but many other EU countries are not yet willing to go that far.
The transatlantic dimension carries weight in the new sanctions against Russia. Pressure to end purchases of Russian energy more quickly has increased in recent days following signals from Washington that President Trump only wants to impose stricter measures if Europe itself steps up efforts. The European pace on LNG and the new package is viewed in that context.
Further work is underway on mechanisms to utilize blocked Russian bank assets for support to Ukraine. Details about any actual seizures remain unclear so far. Additional proposals will follow; the core idea is that extra funding will be made available to Ukraine without directly tapping the assets themselves.