Brussels/London – In a concerted effort to increase pressure on Moscow, the European Union and the United Kingdom have unveiled significant new sanctions against Russia. The move comes as diplomatic attempts to secure a ceasefire in the Ukraine war remain elusive, particularly after a recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to yield a breakthrough.
The European Union's 27 member states officially adopted their "17th sanctions package" on May 20, 2025, during a joint Foreign Affairs and Defense Council meeting in Brussels. This comprehensive package primarily targets Russia's clandestine "shadow fleet," adding 189 oil tankers to the sanctions list, bringing the total number of sanctioned vessels to 342. The "shadow fleet" refers to vessels reportedly used by Russia to circumvent Western economic restrictions imposed following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The new EU measures also extend to companies based in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Hong Kong, as well as a major Russian shipping insurer, all accused of facilitating the operation of the shadow fleet.
Concurrently, the United Kingdom announced over 100 new sanctions aimed at further crippling Russia's war economy. These include 18 additional shadow fleet vessels and 46 financial institutions, notably the St. Petersburg Currency Exchange and the Russian Deposit Insurance Agency, which are deemed to be aiding Russia in evading existing sanctions.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy underscored the urgency of these actions, stating on May 20, "Putin's latest strikes once again show his true colors as a warmonger. We urge him to agree a full, unconditional ceasefire right away so there can be talks on a just and lasting peace."
The intensified European and British stance follows President Trump's May 19 phone call with President Putin, which reportedly concluded without a clear commitment to a ceasefire. While previously signaling potential retaliatory measures, President Trump indicated a shift in his approach after the call, suggesting that further US sanctions would depend on Russia's future actions, a departure from an earlier stance of imposing additional sanctions if a ceasefire agreement was not honored. This has led to speculation that President Trump may be considering future economic cooperation with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the new sanctions, stating via his Telegram channel that they represent "a price for Russia's desire to prolong the war." Conversely, the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the European sanctions, claiming they hinder direct dialogue with Ukraine.
The newly announced sanctions are set to take effect on May 21, 2025. Further punitive measures are anticipated, with the EU reportedly already preparing its next round of sanctions, which may include restrictions on transactions with companies operating the Nord Stream gas pipelines connecting Russia and Europe.
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