Brussels, 23 October (H.S.): The European Union on Wednesday approved its 19th sanctions package against Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, introducing significant new measures aimed at curtailing Moscow’s energy revenues.

The move, which includes the bloc’s first-ever ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), was coordinated with fresh sanctions from the United States, signaling a united front to increase economic pressure on the Kremlin.

The landmark EU agreement was reached after Slovakia dropped its opposition, having received assurances regarding its car industry and energy costs.

The new sanctions will bring forward a ban on Russian LNG imports by a year to the beginning of 2027. Furthermore, the package targets Russia’s shadow fleet by blacklisting over 100 additional aging tankers used to bypass existing oil export restrictions.

In an effort to counter espionage, the EU will also impose new travel controls on Russian diplomats. They will now be required to notify authorities in their host country of any travel plans to other EU nations.

Simultaneously, the United States announced a substantial pickup in its own sanctions. For the first time in his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia, targeting the nation’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the measures were a response to President Vladimir Putin’s unwillingness to conclude this pointless conflict. This policy shift from the Trump administration follows a canceled summit with Putin and what has been described as a faltering peace push.

The EU’s sanctions package is set to be formally adopted on Thursday, coinciding with a summit in Brussels where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be in attendance.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar