EU ambassadors approve 18th sanctions package against Russia

Andriy Yermak, the head of the President's Office, reported the information.

What should be included in the sanctions package?

• A ban on any transactions related to Nord Stream 1 and 2.

“The end of illusions about their future,” noted Andriy Yermak.

• A price cap on oil from Russia.

• Another 105 vessels of the Russian tanker fleet will be sanctioned.

“This is a direct blow to schemes for circumventing restrictions,” emphasized Yermak.

• A complete ban on the import of petroleum products made from Russian oil.

• Sanctions against the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

As Yermak highlights, this will hit the pockets of the Russian elite.

• A complete ban on SWIFT access for another 22 Russian banks and an effective ban on all transactions.

• A ban on transactions by financial operators in third countries who help Russia circumvent sanctions.

• Export restrictions worth over €2.5 billion.

“Technologies and critical industrial goods will no longer reach Russia,” Yermak noted.

• Sanctions will target 22 companies—both Russian and foreign—that directly support Russia’s military-industrial complex.

• Sanctions will also apply to individuals involved in ideological influence on Ukrainian children in Russia.

“A number of proposals from our sanctions group have been taken into account,” summarized Andriy Yermak.

Zelenskyy’s reaction

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this was the result of joint diplomatic work that Ukraine actively carried out together with its partners.

“We managed to strengthen the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for this war, and today the package has been approved,” said the head of state, thanking everyone who contributed to the process.

Zelenskyy specifically mentioned European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, as well as the leaders of EU member states for their principled and united stance on Russia. He gave special thanks to Denmark, which began its EU presidency on July 1 and is already demonstrating an active position.

The EU is introducing stricter price restrictions on Russian oil—about $46 per barrel. Zelenskyy emphasized that this restriction “should really cut Russian revenues,” and stressed the coordination of further steps with international partners: “It’s possible. We already know how to apply pressure.”

The new restrictions concern not only the vessels used to circumvent sanctions, but also the captains of these tankers and the companies that support their operations.

“This is financing murder with oil money. And it must be stopped,” the president emphasized.

The package provides for a complete ban on transactions related to the Nord Stream gas pipeline system, which Zelenskyy called part of “Putin’s preparations for a full-scale war.”

“All infrastructure of Russia’s war must be blocked,” he said.

The president reported that Ukraine is promptly preparing to synchronize European sanctions within its own jurisdiction and is developing new restrictions—both at the level of its own policy and in cooperation with partners.

“Everything that will pressure and stop Russia must be implemented as quickly as possible,” Zelenskyy concluded, stressing that the adoption of the sanctions package is a direct response to the latest brutal attacks by Russia on Ukrainian cities and villages, including Kharkiv, Mykolaiv region, Dnipro region, Odesa region, and Sumy region.

What came before?

Earlier, the approval of the 18th sanctions package against Russia was reported by Radio Liberty correspondent Rikard Jozwiak on the social network X.

"Green light – EU ambassadors have passed the Russia sanctions. Formal approval later today," Jozwiak wrote.

• On July 16, European Union ambassadors were unable to agree on the 18th sanctions package against Russia, as Slovakia continued to oppose their adoption.

• However, on July 17, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that on July 18, the country would stop blocking the adoption of the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia.