Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Union adopted today, Monday, the 16th package of sanctions against Russia. As Russia's illegal aggression enters its fourth year, this package is designed to increase pressure on the aggressor and is part of the EU's firm commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. According to a European statement in Brussels,
The package targets important sectors at the systemic level in the Russian economy such as energy, trade, transport, infrastructure and financial services. It also adds other measures aimed at addressing circumvention. To reduce the risk of bypassing our sanctions, some of the provisions of the 16th package are now also reflected in the sanctions regime imposed on Belarus. The EU has also updated and strengthened its sanctions regimes regarding Crimea, Sevastopol, and the non-government-controlled areas of the Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk and Zaporizhia regions.
The package includes the following main elements:
Anti-circumvention measures
Today's package targets an additional 74 vessels, bringing the total number of vessels listed to 153. These vessels are part of the shadow fleet or have contributed to Russia's energy revenues.
The measures add a new listing criterion, targeting those who support unsafe oil tanker operations.

The package imposes targeted export restrictions on 53 new companies that support the Russian military-industrial complex or are involved in sanctions evasion. This includes 34 companies in countries other than Russia.

Additional listings
Today’s package includes 83 additional listings, including 48 individuals and 35 entities, such as those supporting the Russian military complex, active in sanctions evasion, Russian cryptocurrency exchanges and in the maritime sector.

The package also adds another new listing criterion for individuals and entities that are part of, support or benefit from the Russian military-industrial complex.

Trade measures
Ban on direct imports of Russian aluminium:
In addition to the ban on imports of manufactured aluminium goods from Russia, which has already been implemented, this package includes a ban on EU imports of primary aluminium from Russia.
To ensure a smooth transition for companies, a quota mechanism was introduced allowing 275,000 tonnes, equivalent to 80% of EU imports in 2024, to be used over a 12-month period. Dual-use export restrictions were extended to include additional elements in order to cut off Russia’s access to key technologies it has been using on the battlefield, covering:

Dual-use chemicals for the production of chloropicrin and other riot control agents used by Russia as chemical weapons in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Software related to computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools used in weapons manufacturing, and video game controllers used by the Russian military to guide drones on the battlefield.

Chromium ores and compounds due to their military applications.
Limited exemptions and exceptions for certain dual-use and advanced technology exports, for example for medical use, were clarified and further tightened to support effective enforcement by customs and licensing agencies.
In addition, additional export restrictions were introduced on industrial goods, specifically targeting metals, chemicals, steel, glass materials and pyrotechnics, of particular military importance.
Energy measures
The EU has decided to ban temporary storage or placement of Russian crude oil or petroleum products under free zone procedures in EU ports, which was previously permitted if the oil complied with the price cap and went to a third country.
The package extends the ban on the provision of goods, technology and services to complete Russian LNG projects to also include crude oil projects in Russia, such as the Vostok oil project.
The package extends the existing software ban to restrict the export, supply or provision of oil and gas exploration software to Russia.
Transport measures
The package extends the flight ban to enable the inclusion of airlines from third countries that operate domestic flights within Russia or supply Russian airlines with aviation-related goods or for domestic flights in Russia. If included, these companies will not be allowed to fly to the EU.
Land transport ban: The package adds an amendment that prevents Russian ownership from increasing to more than 25% in EU land transport projects, thus closing potential loopholes to circumvent current sanctions.
Infrastructure measures
A complete ban on transactions on specific Russian infrastructure: This includes two airports in Moscow (Vnukovo and Zhukovsky), four regional airports, the port of Astrakhan on the Volga and the port of Makhachkala on the Caspian Sea. The seaports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk on the Baltic Sea and Novorossiysk on the Black Sea are also included.
A ban on construction services provided by EU companies in Russia.
Financial sector measures
Russia has shifted much of its financial flows through smaller banks. The 16th package of measures reinforces our measures on the financial sector. In particular:
Adding 13 financial institutions to the list of entities subject to ban for providing specialized financial messaging services.
Adding 3 banks to the ban on transactions for using the Russian Central Bank’s Financial Messaging System (SPFS) to circumvent sanctions.
Extending the ban on transactions to enable the EU to list financial institutions and crypto-asset providers involved in circumventing the oil price cap and facilitating transactions with vessels included in the shadow fleet.
Measures against disinformation
Suspension of broadcasting activities of 8 additional media outlets in the EU or directed to the EU, due to their role in supporting and justifying Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

“For three years, Russia has been relentlessly bombing Ukraine, trying to steal territory that is not its own. This new round of sanctions targets not only the Russian fleet, but also those who support the operation of unsafe oil tankers, the video game controllers used to guide drones, the banks used to circumvent our sanctions, and the propaganda outlets used to spread lies. There is no doubt about who is the aggressor, and who must pay and be held accountable for this war. Each package of sanctions deprives the Kremlin of the funds it needs to wage war. With talks underway to end Russian aggression, we must put Ukraine in the strongest possible position. Sanctions provide leverage,” said Maja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy coordinator, in a statement from the European Commission. EU sanctions remain at the heart of the EU’s response to Russia’s unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine, degrading Russia’s military and technological capabilities, depriving the Kremlin of the revenues it uses to finance the war, and imposing higher costs on the Russian economy. In this respect, sanctions contribute to the EU’s main objective, which is to continue working for a just peace. And permanent. Their effects grow over time as Russia’s industrial and technological base is eroded by sanctions. As the guardian of the EU Treaties, the European Commission ensures the consistent implementation of EU sanctions by EU Member States and monitors their enforcement. Russia is actively trying to circumvent sanctions. This is clear evidence that our measures are having an impact. It also calls on us to redouble our efforts to tackle circumvention and seek closer cooperation from certain third countries. EU Sanctions Envoy David O’Sullivan continues to engage with third countries to combat circumvention. Working with like-minded partners, we have also agreed a list of common high-priority sanctioned goods for which companies should conduct their own due diligence, and third countries that should not re-export to Russia. In addition, we have also drawn up within the EU a list of economically important sanctioned goods for which companies and third countries should be particularly vigilant.