European Union begins preparing 15th package of sanctions against Russia: when will it be adopted

The European Union has begun work on the 15th sanctions package against Russia, but its implementation may take several months, according to EUobserver, citing European diplomats.

There are two potential dates for the introduction of the 15th sanctions package.

The more ambitious option is by the end of the Hungarian presidency of the EU, which concludes on December 31, 2024. One source noted that discussions are starting during the Hungarian presidency because it coincides with the thousandth day of the full-scale war (November 19, 2024).

A more realistic timeline, according to other diplomats, is by the third anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine, which is February 24, 2025.

The timelines may depend on several factors, including potential resistance from Hungary, which currently holds the EU presidency and controls the agenda of the Council of the EU committees dealing with sanctions against Russia. Additionally, the timelines could be influenced by potential changes in US policy following the presidential elections.

Currently, Brussels is only gathering proposals from member states regarding the sanctions, so it is too early to discuss the specific content of the package.

The Baltic countries and Poland are reportedly advocating for a ban on the import of Russian liquefied gas, while the Scandinavian countries want to strengthen restrictions on the "shadow fleet" of Russian oil tankers. Also on the agenda are restrictions on Russia's access to technologies, expanding the "gray list" of companies from China, India, Turkiye, and the UAE, strengthening the control over the evasion of existing sanctions.

Ukraine's Ambassador to the EU, Vsevolod Chentsov, told EUobserver that Ukraine is counting on the closure of loopholes that allow Russia to import electronics for weapons.

"In October, more than 2,000 Shahed drones were used against Ukraine. This means that over 170,000 microchips, microcontrollers, processors, and a variety of other components that should have been blocked were supplied to Russia from abroad, including from companies in China, Europe, and the USA," he said.

Ukraine's list of demands also includes a ban on the import of oil products from India produced from Russian oil.

Ukraine is counting on sanctions against Russian metals (titanium, nickel, chromium), chemicals, grain, fertilizers, and uranium, as well as against Russian financial and IT companies.

Chentsov stated that Europe should add more "oligarchs close to the Kremlin" to the blacklist and pay attention to "Russian propagandists, artists, and clergy, including the highest representatives of the ROC, who support the war and incite hatred against the Ukrainian people."

In June 2024, the European Union approved the 14th sanctions package against Russia in response to its full-scale aggression against Ukraine.

In October, the Council of the EU approved a new sanctions mechanism against Russia in response to its hybrid actions against European countries.