The EU is planning a sanctions breakthrough: what will they hit Russia with this time?

The European Union is preparing another — already strengthened — package of sanctions against Russia, which will cover key areas: energy, financial services, and international trade.

This was stated by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

One of the main points of the new package will be a complete ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). The move is seen as a strategic blow to Russia’s energy sector, which has so far remained a source of foreign exchange earnings despite the restrictions.

Ursula von der Leyen noted that the sanctions already in place are affecting the Russian economy. According to estimates, Russian GDP, which grew by 4.3% in 2024, could slow to 0.9% in 2025.

“Our sanctions are working. But we must increase the pressure,” von der Leyen stressed.

The European Commission is currently discussing the details of the new sanctions package with EU member states. It is expected that formal agreement could take place in the coming weeks.

Recall that three European countries — France, Spain, and Belgium — spent more money on liquefied natural gas from Russia than on financial assistance to Ukraine.

As reported, the European Commission has prepared a document proposing to change the mechanism for adopting sanctions against Russia. This involves moving from the principle of unanimity to qualified majority voting in order to avoid blocking by Hungary .

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