EU Adopts 19th Sanctions Package on Russia

The EU formally adopted its 19th sanctions package against Russia after diplomatic wrangling that included Slovakia lifting its objections. It phases out Russian LNG with short‑term import bans within six months and a full ban by Jan. 1, 2027, and tightens transaction bans on major Russian oil firms and state-owned producers while sanctioning additional Russian and Central Asian banks. The measures add 117 vessels to Moscow’s “shadow fleet” blacklist (bringing the total to 557), ban reinsurance for listed vessels and sales of used Russian aircraft, restrict Russia’s MIR and SBP payment systems for foreign entities, and impose export controls on chemicals and military‑use components. The package singles out third‑country facilitators — naming Chinese refineries and traders including Liaoyang Petrochemical, Shandong Yulong Petrochemical and Chinaoil, and other firms in India and Thailand — bans new investments in strategic Russian special economic zones, and adds 11 individuals linked to the abduction of Ukrainian children (bringing that tally to 102). The adoption came hours after the United States imposed sanctions on two large Russian oil companies reported as Rosneft and Lukoil.