The Council of the European Union has decided to extend economic sanctions against Russia for another six months, until January 31, 2026, reports RKS News.
These restrictive measures were first introduced in 2014 and were significantly intensified following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022—an act the EU describes as “unprovoked, unjustified, and illegal.”
In its official statement, the EU Council emphasized that due to the ongoing illegal actions by Moscow, which violate international law, it is necessary to maintain all existing sanctions and consider additional measures if needed.
The current sanctions regime includes sweeping restrictions on trade, finance, energy, technology, transport, and luxury goods. Key elements involve:
A ban on Russian oil imports into the EU,
The suspension of SWIFT services for several Russian banks,
The blocking of Kremlin-affiliated media outlets across EU territory.
The European Union reiterated its readiness to increase pressure on Russia through additional sanctions if the situation escalates further.
