The Council of the European Union has decided to extend economic sanctions against Russia for another six months, until early 2026. These sanctions are in response to Russia's role in the separatist crisis in eastern Ukraine and its failure to fully implement the Minsk peace agreements.
The restrictive measures, in effect since 2014, primarily affect the financial, energy, and defense sectors, as well as dual-use goods. The sanctions include restrictions on access to the EU capital market for five major Russian financial entities and prohibitions on the export and import of arms and dual-use products intended for military use.
The EU has reiterated that the lifting of sanctions is conditional on the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, which include the withdrawal of heavy weapons and respect for the ceasefire. This extension reflects the EU's determination to pressure Russia to comply with the agreements and respect Ukraine's sovereignty.