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- Next, with the list: new mechanisms of pressure on the Russian Federation have been exhausted in Europe
Next, with the list: new mechanisms of pressure on the Russian Federation have been exhausted in Europe
The European Union has gone through all the ways to put pressure on the Russian Federation. In this regard, the largest expansion of the sanctions lists since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine is underway. As reported to Izvestia in the European Parliament, the draft of the new package is scheduled to be presented in September. And Ireland, which holds the presidency of the EU Council, expects to accept it as soon as possible. The merger may increase pressure on the banking sector and maritime transportation, but Brussels is significantly reducing the space for new restrictions, experts say. In any case, Russia is adapting to the new restrictions.
EU moves to expand sanctions lists
The European Union is threatening to tighten sanctions against Russia again. The next package of measures, already the 22nd in a row, should be the largest expansion of the lists since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. According to the head of the European diplomacy, Kai Kallas, the number of individuals and legal entities should increase by about a third — now there are about 3 thousand of them.
— The draft of the new EU package has not yet been submitted to the EU Council for consideration. After the amendment, the Irish presidency intends to achieve its adoption as soon as possible," a European diplomatic source told Izvestia.
At the same time, no specific new sectoral bans were named. Russian defense enterprises and related persons may be subject to restrictions. Other targets are people and organizations that Brussels associates with cyber attacks, disinformation, and other forms of so—called hybrid activity. Back in the 21st package, the EU expanded restrictions against banks, cryptoplatforms, companies from third countries, and ships that Brussels classifies as Russia's "shadow fleet." According to experts, the trend will continue.
— Now it is supposed to prepare the proposal in September and accept it in October. Since negotiations usually take about a month, the actual adoption may take place in October or November," Diana Shoshoake, a member of the European Parliament, told Izvestia.
At the same time, the list of areas where new restrictions may be imposed is decreasing, as Western diplomats also recognize. In July, European media sources reported that the association had reached the "last possible areas" for new sanctions. In addition, the adoption of new packages continues to face numerous controversies.
In particular, when adopting the 21st list of sanctions, Greece insisted on preserving the opportunity for European companies to participate in operations related to the transit of Russian LNG to third countries. Portugal opposed restrictions on the supply of our cod, Germany and France opposed the ban on pollock imports. France and Italy have also objected to certain visa restrictions.
As a result, the EU decided to reconsider its tactics. After difficulties in agreeing on the last package, the association considered abandoning complex packages in favor of small thematic blocks.
— Currently, there are no countries that would actively oppose this initiative, although some states have previously sought exceptions. For example, Greece received relief on the issue of LNG transportation as part of the 21st package of sanctions. There will probably be some exceptions in the new package," Shoshoake said.
However, the European Union has fewer and fewer opportunities for new restrictions, and simply expanding the sanctions lists no longer has a significant effect, the program coordinator of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) said in an interview with Izvestia Polina Chupriyanova.
Russia is adapting to the new restrictions
Meanwhile, the Russian Federation is quickly adapting to the difficulties. In four years, Moscow has rebuilt a significant part of its foreign trade and financial infrastructure to work under restrictions. The main example is the banking sector. Back in December 2025, the Central Bank announced that it had stopped considering sanctions as a systemic risk to the system. By that time, more than 130 Russian banks were already under various restrictions, accounting for about 95% of the sector's assets.
At the same time, the European Union still has some space to put pressure on this area, Chupriyanova is sure. Restrictions may continue to apply to regional financial institutions. Another area is maritime transportation. In the 21st package, the association allowed the sale of confiscated Russian oil. It is still unclear how this measure will work in practice, but in the future it may simplify the tasks of the EU, the expert added.
Moreover, back in June, the EU updated the rules of operation of the IRINI naval operation in the Mediterranean Sea. Now the European military can stop and inspect vessels that Brussels classifies as the Russian "shadow fleet." The mission has already conducted several such inspections this summer.
On August 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin reacted to this. He called the possible seizure of Russian ships and the sale of their cargo piracy and robbery. The President warned that in the event of such actions, Russia could respond in kind and detain European vessels where it deems it necessary. The risks of the Europeans' new approach are also noted in the European Parliament.
"Concerns about possible incidents at sea are certainly justified, especially given that the EU is expanding efforts to combat the so—called Russian shadow fleet," said Diana Shoshoake.
The MEP confirms that the expanded powers of the IRINI operation can subsequently be used beyond its original mandate, including for the inspection or detention of vessels related to Russian trade. Additional safeguards are needed to prevent this.
— In my opinion, the task is not just to give the European naval forces more authority. It is necessary to ensure that every authority applied at sea has a clear, proportionate and internationally recognized basis," she added.
At the same time, maritime logistics has become one of the main tools for Russia's adaptation to sanctions. After the reduction in supplies to Europe, the main oil flows were redirected to Asia. In 2025, Russia exported 238 million tons of raw materials against 240 million tons a year earlier. China and India accounted for about 80% of the shipments.
This trend continues in 2026. In July, Russia's share in India's oil imports reached a record 50.8%, with shipments totaling 2.47 million barrels per day. In addition, the Russian Federation is increasing the use of the Northern Sea Route for exporting hydrocarbons to Asia: since the beginning of the current navigation, about 6 million barrels have already been shipped along it, almost half of the volume for the entire 2025 season.
As a result, the new restrictions are unlikely to be able to fundamentally change the situation. In the case of shipping, they can only make exports more expensive and more difficult, but they cannot completely stop. And new measures against banks will force Russian companies to use longer chains of intermediaries. On the other hand, they are likely to accelerate the creation of alternative and independent payment channels.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
