EU Unveils Fifth Round of Sanctions Targeting Russia Over Ukraine Conflict

The European Union has announced a fifth package of sanctions targeting Russia, in response to the ongoing military operations in Ukraine. The EU Council stated today that these economic and individual measures are meant to curb Russia’s ability to wage war and to increase pressure on the Kremlin’s government and economy.

Speaking for the bloc, Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, underscored that the sanctions aim to deter reckless and inhumane actions by Russian forces and to signal that the costs of aggression will be borne by decision makers in Moscow.

What the fifth sanctions package includes

• An embargo on Russian coal and other solid fossil fuels entering the EU, effective from August 2022. EU coal imports are a major annual flow, estimated around 8 billion euros.

• A ban on Russian ships calling at EU ports, with limited exceptions for humanitarian aid, agricultural products, and food shipments. The energy sector is not affected by this ban.

• A prohibition on imports of jet fuel to Russia, alongside constraints on advanced technologies such as quantum computers, semiconductors, and other high-tech electronics.

• Restrictions on imports of wood, cement, fertilizer, seafood, and spirits from Russia.

• A complete prohibition on transactions with four important Russian banks, with their assets frozen as part of a broader effort to sever their access to EU markets after disconnection from global payment networks.

“After disconnecting from SWIFT, these banks will be fully cut off from EU markets”, the European Council noted in an official statement. Previously, seven Russian banks, including VTB, Rossiya, Otkritie, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, Sovcombank, and VEB.RF, were removed from the system.

• A ban on truck transport by Russian and Belarusian companies across EU territory, with exemptions for the transport of medicinal products and food. Movement of vehicles for humanitarian purposes remains permitted.

• A ban on Russian company participation in public procurement, along with an extended restriction on crypto transactions and the sale of banknotes and securities by Russian and Belarusian legal entities. The aim is to close gaps that allow sanctions evasion.

• Personal sanctions targeting oligarchs, Russian propagandists, members of security forces and the military, as well as their family members.

• Expanded sanctions on industrial and technology sectors connected to the military operation in Ukraine.

The Council called on Russia to halt its military operation immediately, withdraw forces and equipment, and respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The EU also urged Moscow to step up humanitarian aid to besieged cities like Mariupol.

European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer noted that assets worth about 30 billion euros held by Russian citizens have been frozen under these measures.

Beyond Europe: other developments

In a parallel move, Japan announced new sanctions on Russia. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tokyo would progressively reduce and eventually ban Russian coal imports, aiming to lessen dependence on Russian energy by accelerating available alternatives. Japan also pledged to ban imports of machinery, timber, and vodka from Russia, and to broaden sanctions on Russian banks. Kishida highlighted the freezing of assets belonging to major Russian banks, including Sberbank and Alfa-Bank, and outlined penalties against hundreds of individuals and dozens of organizations linked to the military sphere.

Britain also expanded sanctions, adding names such as Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova to its blacklist, with corresponding asset freezes and travel bans. The list includes other family members connected to Russian leadership and officials, reflecting a broad approach to pressure Moscow from multiple fronts.

French President Emmanuel Macron has indicated that the conflict in Ukraine is unlikely to end in the near term. He warned of a difficult period ahead in Donbass and stressed that diplomatic concessions from Russia should not be anticipated in the coming weeks. Macron emphasized the need for coordinated humanitarian efforts in Mariupol and Dnipro, including ongoing discussions with Turkey, Greece, and the United Nations to facilitate aid. He also spoke of France’s willingness to act as a guarantor for post-conflict peacebuilding once a ceasefire is achieved.

Across the Atlantic, policymakers in Canada and the United States continue to monitor the situation closely, evaluating further steps to align sanctions with ongoing security and humanitarian considerations. The shared objective remains to deter aggression, support Ukraine’s sovereignty, and minimize broader regional disruption.

In summary, the fifth sanctions package builds on earlier measures by expanding the range of restricted sectors, intensifying financial penalties, and widening the circle of sanctioned individuals. The overarching message from European and allied leaders is a commitment to uphold international law and to sustain coordinated pressure until Russia negates its military actions and engages in constructive diplomacy.