The European Union has adopted its 21st sanctions package against Russia, imposing its most extensive economic penalties in four years. The measures expand restrictions across the financial, military, cyber and energy sectors while introducing new enforcement tools and broader export controls.
The package tightens restrictions on the Moscow Exchange and blocks the A7 cross-border payment network. It also bans crypto services operating in third countries that help Moscow evade sanctions.
Beyond the financial sector, the EU has expanded export controls targeting Russia's military supply chain for long-range drones and added 51 entities to its export control list.
The sanctions package directly targets Russia's FSB 16th Centre, holding the intelligence unit responsible for cyber espionage and sabotage across EU member states.
The package also freezes the assets of 15 individuals and one entity linked to war crimes and the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The EU has set a new price cap of U.S.$44 per barrel on Russian oil for the next 12 months.
The original price cap, introduced in 2022, was U.S.$60 per barrel, while the global market price for crude oil is currently around U.S.$80 per barrel.
The bloc has also blacklisted additional tankers operating in Russia's "shadow fleet", targeting vessels used to transport Russian oil while evading international restrictions.
The package required unanimous approval from all EU member states, and the final agreement includes several exemptions.
Greece secured an exemption allowing its shipping fleet to transport Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-EU countries.
Following pressure from Bulgaria, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and the founder of Lukoil were removed from the blacklist.
Portugal and Germany blocked a proposed ban on Russian seafood imports.
Austria delayed sanctions against an investment firm linked to Raiffeisen Bank, which is currently exposed to more than €2 billion in losses in Russia.
The 21st sanctions package significantly strengthens restrictions on Russia's financial system, military supply chains, cyber operations and energy exports. At the same time, the exemptions illustrate the compromises made by member states to secure unanimous approval for the measures.
The U.S. will impose unprecedented measures on Iran in order to economically isolate the country, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said...
Georgia could gain a direct electricity link to Europe under plans for a new overland energy corridor connecting Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye ...
Türkiye has unveiled plans for joint military exercises and defence production with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan under a new security pact that i...
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled or rerouted at Catania Airport over the past week as ash from Mount Etna’s ongoing eruption continues to disrupt air travel in Sicily.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
The U.S. will impose unprecedented measures on Iran in order to economically isolate the country, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Iran and Afghanistan are seeking closer cooperation in agriculture, livestock and irrigation during a three-day Iranian ministerial visit to Kabul, as both sides look to strengthen trade and rural economies.
At least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in Ukraine in July, according to UN investigators, marking the highest monthly civilian casualty toll since March 2022.
Record rainfall in Japan killed eight people and stranded thousands of travellers at Tokyo's Narita Airport on Friday, as flooding disrupted transport and cut power to 20,000 homes.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 14th of August, covering the latest developments.
Ukraine’s attacks on Russian ports, refineries and shipping infrastructure are putting Moscow’s energy exports under growing pressure and disrupting key trade routes, raising concerns over commercial shipping and global food supplies.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment