Statement by the HREU on the alignment of certain countries with Council Decision concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine

On 24 February 2025, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/394¹.

Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/394 imposed further restrictions in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, among others, targeting 74 vessels from Russia's shadow fleet, as well as combating sanctions' circumvention by adding 53 new entities to the list of those directly supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex in its war of aggression against Ukraine. The Decision also expanded export restrictions on items that contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia’s defence and security sector or contribute to the enhancement of Russian industrial capabilities; and imposed further restrictions on the import of primary aluminium.

Furthermore, it introduced a transaction ban on 3 credit or financial institutions established outside Russia that use the ‘System for Transfer of Financial Messages’ (SPFS) of the Central Bank of Russia and extended the prohibition on the provision of specialised financial messaging services to 13 regional banks in Russia. Additionally, it suspended the EU broadcasting licences of eight Russian media outlets. The Decision also introduced a transaction ban with certain listed ports, locks and airports in Russia that are used for military or circumvention purposes and widened the EU flight ban to listed air carriers operating domestic flights within Russia.

It imposed further restrictions on software related to oil and gas exploration, and extended the prohibition to provide goods, technology and services for the completion of crude oil projects in Russia. The Decision prohibited the provision of temporary storage for Russian crude oil and petroleum products within the EU.

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway and Ukraine align themselves with this Council Decision.

They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it.

¹ OJ L, 2025/394, 24.02.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/394/oj