EU update: 20th package of sanctions in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 5 May 2026

The EU adopted its 20th package of sanctions against Russia on 23 April 2026, with a strong focus on anti-circumvention and new energy-related measures. Additional financial and trade restrictions have also been adopted:

• Additional listings mainly targeting Russia’s energy, ‘shadow fleet’ ecosystem and defence sectors.
• Ban on natural gas condensate and LNG terminal services allowing termination of long-term contracts with Russian counterparties.
• Anti‑circumvention tool: First use of the tool in response to systematic failure by Kyrgyzstan to prevent the sale, supply, transfer or export to Russia of certain high-risk items, thereby undermining the effectiveness of existing sanctions.
• Further restrictions targeting the Russian ‘shadow fleet’: 46 additional ships listed and banned from EU ports and services (11 vessels delisted, reflecting restored compliance) and designation of ports and locks.
• Financial and crypto sanctions: Ban on the RUBx cryptocurrency and digital rouble; full sectoral ban on dealing with Russian crypto‑asset service providers and decentralised platforms.
• Military sanctions: 58 companies and individuals developing military goods listed, covering third country suppliers of critical items to Russia.
• Trade and export restrictions: New export bans on goods and technologies used in Russia’s military sector; new import bans on commodities not previously covered.
• Protection of EU operators: New rule allowing Russian abusive lawsuits in Russia to be sanctioned and enabling damages claims where such judgments are enforced in third countries; full transaction ban on third country actors assisting in their enforcement.
• Protection of EU research: New rules prohibiting acceptance of R&I funding from the Russian government...