The EU may adopt its 22nd package of sanctions against Russia in November, according to Vlasyuk
The European Union may adopt its 22nd package of sanctions against Russia no earlier than November. At the same time, the EU expects to expand its personal sanctions list by approximately 1,600 individuals and legal entities as early as October.
According to him, the EU’s work on new restrictions can currently be broadly divided into two main areas: expanding the existing list of individuals subject to sanctions and preparing a new, 22nd package of sectoral sanctions.
Vladislav Vlasyuk noted that about 1,600 new entities are expected to be added to the sanctions list in October. These are primarily representatives of the Russian military-industrial complex, as well as, to some extent, the financial sector.
“The list includes 1,600 entities. We expect it in October. It consists mainly of the military-industrial complex and, to a lesser extent, the financial sector. About half of this list consists of our proposals. There are no oligarchs on this list,” Vlasyuk said.
At the same time, new Russian oligarchs may emerge specifically as part of the 22nd sanctions package.
According to Vlasyuk, theoretically, the EU’s 22nd sanctions package could be adopted as early as October, but he considers November 2026 a more realistic timeline.
The new package, like previous sanctions decisions, is expected to include sectoral bans, as well as economic and trade restrictions against Russia.
Ukraine, in particular, is insisting on tightening restrictions on Russian exports.
“I hope they will ban imports of Russian fertilizers and metals into the European Union,” Vlasyuk noted.
A separate set of new restrictions may target Russia’s financial sector. In addition, sanctions against new Russian oligarchs may be introduced as part of the 22nd package.
Vladislav Vlasyuk emphasized that Ukraine is actively involved in preparing the new EU sanctions.
According to him, the previous, 21st package of EU sanctions consisted of approximately 40% proposals from the Ukrainian side.
Ukraine plans to continue submitting its own proposals to the European Union regarding the imposition of restrictions against Russian companies and individuals involved in supporting the war.
Separately, Vlasyuk commented on a new EU rule under which personal sanctions against nearly 3,000 Russian individuals and legal entities have been extended immediately for 36 months.
In September, the Council of the European Union extended the relevant restrictions until September 22, 2029.
According to Vladislav Vlasyuk, it will now be difficult to shorten this period, as changing the relevant decision would require the unanimous consent of all EU member states.
“The European Union is often criticized for being very slow to make decisions, but there is a positive side to this—namely, that once a decision has been made, it is very difficult to change or revoke it later. Since they’ve already approved 36 months, I find it hard to imagine all countries unanimously deciding to shorten this period,” he explained.
At the same time, extending the current sanctions for 36 months does not prevent the European Union from adding new individuals to the sanctions lists.
That is why, according to Vlasyuk, Ukraine will continue to submit its own proposals regarding Russian individuals and legal entities against whom, in the opinion of the Ukrainian side, sanctions should be imposed.
This was stated by Vladislav Vlasyuk, the President of Ukraine’s Representative for Sanctions Policy.
As a reminder, on October 2, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions against seven Russian citizens whom London links to the forced deportation, indoctrination, and militarization of Ukrainian children. Among those sanctioned are the leaders of the Russian “First Movement” and its branches in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Earlier, the U.S. banned transactions with A7 due to suspicions of sanctions evasion.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury also imposed sanctions against Iran’s automotive and railway sectors. The restrictions are part of Operation Economic Outcast, aimed at cutting off Tehran’s access to financial resources.
On October 1, the British government announced a new package of sanctions against Russia, targeting 31 individuals and entities, as well as vessels belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet.”
