EU to Unveil Sweeping Russia Sanctions Targeting Military Supply Chains

The European Union is preparing its most extensive sanctions package against Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, according to the bloc's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. In an interview with a German newspaper, Kallas said the new listings would be the most far-reaching since the start of the war and would expand the total number of sanctioned Russian entities by a third.

Kallas, who heads the European External Action Service (EEAS), said existing sanctions have already cost Russia over €1 trillion and deprived its war machine of critical resources. "The pressure must keep growing until Moscow ends its war," she said, without providing specific details on the timing or scope of the new measures.

Diplomatic sources indicate the EEAS is preparing to propose approximately 1,600 new designations targeting individuals and entities based in Russia, with a particular focus on Moscow's military industrial complex. The proposed measures would include travel bans, transaction restrictions, and asset freezes.

The new list is expected to be presented to EU member states in early September, with adoption targeted for October. Unlike previous packages, the listings are not expected to be accompanied by sectoral measures, a move aimed at speeding up the approval process.

EU sanctions require unanimous approval from all member states, and previous packages have faced delays due to disputes. The most recent 21st package, approved in July, included curbs on Russia's banking sector and cryptocurrency networks.

The EEAS also plans to propose additional listings in September targeting individuals involved in trafficking Ukrainian children, and later in the autumn, more designations related to Russia's hybrid activities, including cyberattacks and misinformation campaigns.