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Budrys on the adoption of the 19th package of sanctions: The EU must not stop, and move forward with further restrictions

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Updated 2025-10-23

On 23 October, the European Council announced its 19th package of economic and individual sanctions. This historic decision introduces restrictive measures on the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia, a complete ban on the import of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Russia, a transaction ban on Russian energy giants Rosneft and Gazpromneft, new restrictions on the cryptocurrency sector, and sanctions on 117 vessels belonging to the shadow fleet.

"Russian bombings and terror in Ukraine will continue until the Kremlin feels real consequences. The 19th package of sanctions adopted today targets the driving force of Russia's war economy - the export of fossil fuels - which is exactly what is needed to finally stop Putin from openly mocking the U.S. and European efforts for peace in Ukraine and, above all, to accept an unconditional ceasefire. The EU must not stop here and move on with further restrictions aimed at a complete ban on exports of dual-use goods to Russia, nuclear energy, and alternative financing channels that ensure access of the Russian military economy to critically needed technologies," said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys.

The EU imported more than €7 billion of liquefied natural gas from Russia last year and €5.2 billion in the first eight months of this year. Accordingly, the decision adopted by the Council to introduce a full ban, as of 1 January 2027, the purchase, imports or transfer of liquefied natural gas originating in or exported from Russia, as well as the provision of related technical or financial assistance, will further reduce Russia's revenues from fossil fuel exports and maximize economic pressure on Russia to end its war of aggression against Ukraine as soon as possible.

The EU also imposed sanctions on an additional 117 vessels, bringing the total number of sanctioned vessels to 564. The previous exemptions for major energy trading companies Rosneft and Gazpromneft were revoked, and a full transaction ban was imposed. Asset freeze measures have been imposed on other companies, such as Litasco Middle East DMCC, the Dubai-based sales arm of Russian company Lukoil.

Special economic, innovation, and preferential zones are a key element of the economic development strategy of the Russian Federation. They are designed to attract direct investment and promote industrial, technological, and innovation capacity through tax and customs preferences, and regulatory regimes for industrial parks, technology clusters, logistics centres, and port areas across the Russian Federation. For example, the preferential treatment in the Far East and Arctic zones supports the expansion of the shipbuilding, mining, and petrochemical sectors and energy export routes, which are important for the reorientation of the Russian economy towards Asia, as well as the circumvention of EU restrictive measures. Accordingly, for the first time, a ban on investment in eleven of Russia's special economic and preferential zones has been imposed as part of the new package of sanctions against Russia.

The Council also extended the transaction ban on ports and locks in third countries other than Russia that transfer UAVs, missiles, or related technology to or components thereof to Russia, or help circumvent other EU restrictive measures.

The new package of sanctions also introduced a transaction ban on A7A5, a ruble-based stablecoin tied to sanctioned Russian actors. The currency was issued by the pro-Russian Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor and a Russian state-owned bank as the first stable, ruble-based cryptocurrency in history.

The Council also imposed a transaction ban on an additional five Russian financial institutions and expanded existing bans on certain third-country credit and financial institutions as well as crypto-asset service providers to entities providing payment services. Accordingly, these restrictions now apply to a total of seven new entities.

The Council has also placed additional restrictions on services to the Russian government or to legal persons, entities, or bodies established in Russia that contribute to its technological capacity building. Restrictions are now in place for commercial space technology services, artificial intelligence, and high-performance and quantum computing services. To prevent these services from aiding Russia's military, technological, or industrial capabilities, a new requirement of prior authorization has been introduced for services not yet covered by existing rules within Council Regulation No. 833/2014, which includes prohibitions on selling, supplying, or exporting specific goods and technology to the Russian government.

Against a backdrop of increasingly hostile intelligence activities that support Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the Council has introduced a prior notification mechanism for Russian diplomats and consular officials, as well as members of administrative and technical staff or service staff of Russian diplomatic missions or consular posts and their family members traveling within the Schengen area and when going to a member state other than their country of accreditation. This system requires these individuals to notify in advance the relevant EU member state of their travel, including details like transportation and route. Additionally, EU member states may impose an authorisation requirement on Russian diplomats for traveling to their territories, based on visas or residence permits issued by another state.

The new sanctions package adds 64 individuals and entities for actions against Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. The Council also added a new criterion to the sanctions list for those involved in the deportation, forced displacement, forced assimilation, indoctrination, or military education of Ukrainian minors.

The Council today also adopted new sanctions against Belarus, matching restrictions imposed on Russia as part of the 19th package of sanctions and adding new ones against two natural and three legal persons that support or benefit from the Lukashenko regime or are part of Belarus's military-industrial complex.