EU Commission proposes 17th sanctions package against Russia, Reuters

The European Commission has proposed its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, aiming to add over 100 vessels tied to Moscow’s shadow fleet and more than 50 individuals and entities, including five in China, according to Reuters.

The proposal, which surfaced earlier than expected, also includes tighter export controls on dual-use goods and advanced technologies that could aid Russia’s military efforts. It notably lists 31 companies suspected of assisting Russia's military or enabling sanctions evasion—13 of which are based outside Russia.

In a shift from prior practice, member states were not informally consulted in advance, though the streamlined proposal is expected to be swiftly approved. The first discussions are scheduled for Wednesday.

An exemption from sanctions on Russia’s Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project—crucial to Japan’s energy needs—will be extended until June 2026, one diplomat told Reuters.

The move comes as a sign of unity among the 27 EU member states, despite repeated attempts by Hungary’s pro-Russia government to stall further sanctions.

France’s foreign minister recently indicated that the EU is seeking to align the timing of this sanctions package with a new round of US sanctions currently under review by the Biden administration. The US measures are expected to target major Russian entities such as Gazprom.