EU Proposes 21st Russia Sanctions Package, Barring Soldiers and Capping Oil at $44
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 9
EU Proposes 21st Russia Sanctions Package, Barring Soldiers and Capping Oil at $44
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 9
Summary
Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would for the first time bar entry to anyone who has served in Russia’s armed forces since the 2022 invasion, pending unanimous approval by all 27 member states.
The 21st package also seeks to hold the Russian oil price cap at $44 until January 2027, add 30 shadow-fleet vessels to the blacklist, and sanction 20 banks, crypto firms and oil traders in third countries.
Trade curbs would expand to Russian fish, metals, ores and car parts worth €60 million, while new EU export bans would cover aerospace and defense-related metals, alloys, drone equipment and launch systems.
The proposals omit alumina exports from Ireland’s Russian-owned Aughinish plant despite reports that the material feeds Russian aluminum supply chains; EU officials say alternatives are limited because Russian and Chinese firms dominate the market.
Alongside the sanctions push, von der Leyen confirmed the bloc will move to the next phase of accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, with the first negotiating chapters expected to open next week.
As Russia's crypto evasion network hits $100 billion, can the EU's latest sanctions finally unplug Moscow's digital war chest?
With Russian billionaires thriving while poverty grows, are EU sanctions weakening Putin's regime or strengthening his elite allies?
EU Unveils 21st Sanctions Package Against Russia: Systemic Crackdown on War Economy, Energy, and Crypto Evasion (June 2026)
Overview
On June 9, 2026, the European Commission unveiled its 21st sanctions package against Russia, marking a shift from targeting individuals to applying systemic pressure on Russia’s main revenue sources. The package freezes the oil price cap at $44.10 for six months to prevent Moscow from gaining extra profits as global oil prices rise. It also introduces tighter controls on Russian liquefied natural gas, especially tanker resales, and targets third-country oil refiners and traders to close loopholes. These measures reflect the EU’s ongoing strategy to dismantle the economic foundations supporting Russia’s war economy.