The European Commission on Friday unveiled its 19th sanctions package against Russia, pledging tighter curbs on finance, energy and dual-use technology while advancing a limited-recourse “reparations loan” backed by frozen Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine; Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho confirmed the adoption of the package, noting that President Ursula von der Leyen and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas would present full details later in the day.

What Brussels Says Will Change

Economy and Productivity Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the 19th sanctions package “will aim to weaken Russia’s already weakened war economy further,” highlighting the impact of coordinated G7 measures so far; in parallel, officials noted that the new round expands financial restrictions—including on select banks and crypto channels—tightens export bans on battlefield-related technology, and blacklists vessels involved in sanctions evasion.

LNG, Energy Flows and the Shadow Fleet

The Commission’s proposal introduces measures against Russia’s shadow tanker network and, significantly, a full ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports by Jan. 1, 2027, pending unanimous approval from EU capitals; President Ursula von der Leyen has been pressing member states to act on LNG restrictions and shadow-fleet vessels as part of strengthening energy sanctions tied to the war.

The “Reparations Loan” Plan

Dombrovskis said the EU plans to set up a limited-recourse loan for Ukraine backed by cash flows from immobilized Russian central bank assets, effectively front-loading future reparations while leaving Russia’s legal ownership intact; he explained the loan would be repaid only once Ukraine receives reparations from Moscow, with technical work ongoing to ensure the mechanism’s legal and fiscal soundness. EU and G7 partners are already channeling windfall profits from these assets to service a $50 billion loan package for Kyiv, and with much of Russia’s portfolio now held in cash at Euroclear, Brussels is exploring additional ways to mobilize proceeds without endangering euro-area stability.

Rationale, Risks and Next Steps

Unveiling the EU’s 19th sanctions package, Ursula von der Leyen stressed that Russia has shown contempt for diplomacy and international law, with measures aimed at cutting Kremlin revenues and technology access, while Kaja Kallas underlined the focus on sectors sustaining Moscow’s war effort and vowed continued pressure with partners until peace is achieved; the proposal now awaits approval from all 27 member states, after which it will take effect alongside additional enforcement rules to curb circumvention, particularly through third-country banking and refining hubs. bu metne uygun sub title ver maks 8 kelimelik