Since March 2014, the EU has progressively imposed restrictive measures on Russia in response to the:
- illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014
- decision to recognise the non-government-controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as independent entities in 2022
- unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine in 2022
The EU has imposed different types of sanctions:
- individual restrictive measures
- economic sanctions
- diplomatic measures
- restrictions on media
- restrictions on economic relations with Crimea and Sevastopol
- restrictions on economic relations with the non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk
- restrictions on economic cooperation
Below you can find more information on each type of restrictive measure.
Individual restrictive measures
Asset freezes and travel restrictions
1093 individuals and 80 entities are subject to an asset freeze and a travel ban because their actions have undermined Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. The list of sanctioned persons and entities is kept under constant review and is subject to periodic renewals by the Council.
Sanctioned individuals include:
- Vladimir Putin
- Sergey Lavrov
- members of the Russian State Duma
- members of the National Security Council
- high-ranking officials
- businesspeople and oligarchs, including Roman Abramovich
The measures were first introduced in March 2014. They were last extended until 15 September 2022.
Misappropriation of Ukrainian state funds
In March 2014, the Council decided to freeze the assets of individuals responsible for the misappropriation of Ukrainian state funds. These measures were last extended in March 2020 until 6 March 2023.
Economic sanctions
In July and September 2014, the EU imposed economic sanctions targeting exchanges with Russia in specific economic sectors.
In March 2015, EU leaders decided to align the existing sanctions regime with the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, which was scheduled for the end of December 2015. Since this did not happen, the Council extended the economic sanctions until 31 July 2016.
The economic sanctions have been extended successively for six months at a time since July 2016. The decision to extend them was made each time following an assessment of the implementation of the Minsk agreements. The economic sanctions are currently extended until 31 July 2022.
These sanctions target the financial, trade, energy, transport, technology and defence sectors.
Financial sector:
- restricted access to EU primary and secondary capital markets for certain Russian banks and companies
- prohibition on transactions with the Russian Central Bank and the Central Bank of Belarus
- SWIFT ban for certain Russian and Belarusian banks
- prohibition on the provision of euro-denominated banknotes to Russia and Belarus
- prohibition on public financing or investment in Russia
- prohibition on investment in and contribution to projects co-financed by the Russian Direct Investment Fund
Energy:
- prohibition on imports from Russia of coal
- prohibition on exports to Russia of goods and technologies in the oil refining sector
- prohibition on new investments in the Russian energy sector
Transport:
- closure of EU airspace to all Russian-owned and Russian-registered aircraft
- closure of EU ports to Russian vessels
- prohibition on Russian and Belarusian road transport operators from entering the EU
- prohibition on exports to Russia of goods and technology in the aviation, maritime and space industry
Defence:
- prohibition on exports to Russia of dual-use goods and technology items that could contribute to Russia’s defence and security capabilities
- prohibition on trade in arms
Raw materials and other goods:
- prohibition on imports from Russia to the EU of iron, steel, wood, cement, seafood and liquor
- prohibition on exports to Russia of luxury goods
Restrictions on media
On 2 March 2022, the EU approved the suspension of the broadcasting activities in the EU of Sputnik and Russia Today until the aggression against Ukraine is brought to an end and until the Russian Federation and the media outlets associated with it cease conducting disinformation and information manipulation campaigns against the EU and its member states.
Sputnik and Russia Today are under the permanent direct or indirect control of the authorities of the Russian Federation and are key to promoting the military aggression against Ukraine and to destabilising neighbouring countries.
Diplomatic measures
In 2014, the EU-Russia summit was cancelled and EU member states decided not to hold regular bilateral summits with Russia. Bilateral talks with Russia on visa matters were suspended.
Instead of the G8 summit in Sochi, a G7 meeting was held - without Russia - in Brussels on 4 and 5 June 2014. Since then, meetings have continued in the G7 format.
EU countries also supported the suspension of negotiations over Russia's joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency (IEA).
In February 2022, the EU decided that Russian diplomats, other Russian officials and business people may no longer benefit from visa facilitation provisions, which allow privileged access to the EU. This decision does not affect ordinary Russian citizens.
Restrictions on economic relations with Crimea and Sevastopol
The Council adopted restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation. The measures apply to EU nationals and EU-based companies. Their scope is limited to the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol.
These measures include:
- an import ban on goods
- restrictions on trade and investment related to certain economic sectors and infrastructure projects
- a ban on supplying tourism services
- an export ban on certain goods and technologies
On 21 June 2021, the Council extended these measures until 23 June 2022.
Restrictions on economic relations with non-government-controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk
The Council adopted restrictive measures in response to the decision by the Russian Federation to proceed with the recognition of the non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in Ukraine as independent entities, and the ensuing decision to send Russian troops into these areas.
The scope of the measures is limited to the non-government-controlled territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. These measures include:
- an import ban on goods
- restrictions on trade and investment related to certain economic sectors
- a ban on supplying tourism services
- an export ban on certain goods and technologies
These measures are in place until 24 February 2023.
Measures concerning economic cooperation
Restrictions on economic cooperation were introduced by EU leaders in July 2014:
- the European Investment Bank (EIB) was asked to suspend the signing of new financing operations in the Russian Federation
- EU member states agreed to coordinate their positions within the board of directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with a view to also suspending the financing of new operations
- the implementation of EU bilateral and regional cooperation programmes with Russia was re-assessed and certain programmes suspended
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