EU to unveil new sanctions package against Russia marking anniversary of Ukraine’s invasion — Welt

The European Union is preparing its sixteenth sanctions package against the Russian Federation, which is expected to be adopted by the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on February 24, 2025.

According to Welt, sources in diplomatic circles indicate that the new package aims to send a strong "clear signal" to Russia, including measures targeting sectors of the Russian economy that have not yet been sufficiently addressed. The sanctions will also focus on Russian propagandists, individuals, and companies responsible for undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity.

The European Commission plans to impose sanctions on individuals involved in espionage for Russia and those participating in disinformation campaigns, particularly in countries like Germany. However, it may be difficult to track and prove individuals' involvement in these activities, so it is not yet clear whether these sanctions will be implemented by the February 2025 deadline.

The EU's fifteenth sanctions package, approved on December 16, 2024, addressed Russia's aggression and included high-ranking officials from North Korea, companies from Russia's "shadow fleet," and Chinese suppliers to Russia. For the first time, the EU imposed full sanctions—such as entry bans, asset freezes, and restrictions on economic resources—on Chinese suppliers of components for Russian drones. The package also added 52 vessels from third countries to the list of tankers prohibited from accessing EU ports, bringing the total to 79.

Additionally, the package sanctioned the military unit responsible for the shelling of the "Okhmatdyt" children's hospital in Kyiv, senior managers in the energy sector, and individuals involved in child deportations, propaganda, and sanction evasion.

In parallel, the UK, along with Norway, is working to strengthen Ukraine's position for 2025 by continuing the use of economic sanctions and targeting critical sources of income that finance Russia's military actions. Notably, they are focusing on combating the shadow fleet, which enables Russia to circumvent sanctions through illegal oil trade.