Editor’s Note
This article outlines the EU’s latest sanctions package against Russia, adopted in February 2025. The measures represent a continued response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The European Union, through Regulation (EU) No. 2025/395 of February 24, 2025, has adopted new restrictive measures against Russia in response to the military aggression against Ukraine.
This 16th sanctions package notably includes:
Anti-circumvention measures, with the addition of 74 new vessels to the “shadow fleet” or the list of vessels that have contributed to Russia’s energy revenues, bringing the total to 153 ships, and 53 new companies sanctioned for supporting the Russian military-industrial complex, of which 34 are located in countries other than Russia.
Trade measures targeting, among other things, imports of Russian primary aluminum. In addition to the existing ban on imports of processed aluminum products from Russia, these new measures provide for a ban on imports of Russian primary aluminum. A quota mechanism is introduced during a transition period allowing the import of 275,000 tonnes over a 12-month period, equivalent to 80% of EU imports in 2024.
Export restrictions on dual-use goods are extended to cut off Russia’s access to key technologies used on the battlefield. The restrictions now cover certain chemical precursors, software related to computer numerical control machine tools used for weapons manufacturing, and video game controllers used by the Russian army to pilot drones on the battlefield, as well as chromium ores and compounds due to their military applications.
Some exemptions and derogations have also been restricted.
The European Union has also added 53 new entities to the list of those directly supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex in its war of aggression against Ukraine. These entities will face stricter export restrictions on dual-use goods and technologies, as well as goods and technologies that could contribute to the technological enhancement of the Russian defense and security sector. One third of these entities are Russian while the others are located in third countries (China, including Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan) and have participated in the circumvention of trade restrictions or in Russia’s acquisition of sensitive materials.
Energy measures, completely banning the temporary storage or placement under free zone procedures of Russian crude oil or petroleum products in EU ports, which was previously permitted if the oil complied with the price cap and was destined for a third country.
The ban on providing goods, technologies and services is extended to the completion of Russian LNG projects, to include crude oil projects in Russia, such as the Vostok project.
The existing software ban is extended to restrict the export, supply or provision of oil and gas exploration software to Russia.