EU Agrees 19th Russia Sanctions Package

EU countries have agreed to a 19th package of sanctions on Russia, with formal adoption expected Thursday morning after Slovakia lifted its veto following assurances on energy and industry support. Measures include the bloc’s first ban on Russian liquefied natural gas — phased so short-term contracts end after six months and long-term contracts by Jan. 1, 2027 — and prohibit transactions with major oil firms such as Rosneft and Gazprom Neft. The package blacklists an additional 117 “shadow fleet” vessels (bringing the total to 558) from EU ports and services and targets 45 entities tied to sanction-evasion networks in China and Hong Kong, imposing travel, financial and other restrictions and new travel curbs on some Russian diplomats. Washington signaled coordinated pressure, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying the United States will announce a “substantial pickup” in sanctions within 24 hours expected to hit Russia’s defense, finance and energy sectors. Hungary remains reluctant though is not blocking the move, and EU leaders are set to discuss broader Ukraine and summit dynamics at the Brussels meeting.