Today, the Council adopted its 18th package of economic and individual restrictive measures against Russia.

Details of the (most relevant) Decisions:

1. Anti-circumvention measures

• 26 new entities added for supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex, including 15 in Russia and 11 in third countries (4 Türkiye, 7 China/Hong Kong).
• Annex IV lists companies with tighter restrictions due to military links.
• Transit ban expanded to 8 new CN codes (construction, transport, energy).
• New catch-all provision to prevent circumvention of export controls via third countries.

2. Financial and investment restrictions

• New prohibitions on transactions with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
• 22 Russian banks are newly covered under the asset freeze and transactions ban.
• Additional controls on the provision of business services and crypto-assets to Russian entities.

3. Individual Listings

• Sanctions extended to 55 new targets: 14 individuals and 41 entities.

4. Price cap and Nord Stream

• The G7 oil price cap is lowered from USD 60 to USD 47.6 per barrel. A dynamic cap adjustment mechanism is introduced.
• A full ban on transactions related to Nord Stream 1 and 2 infrastructure is adopted.
• The EU has listed 105 additional vessels that are part of the shadow fleet transporting Russian oil or violating the oil price cap, bringing the total to 444 vessels.
• These vessels are now subject to a port access ban and a ban on provision of services.

For more information, please refer to:

• Council press release
• Commission press release
• Commission Q&A
• Commission dedicated webpage

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