Sanctions-weary: what EU countries included in the 16th package agreed by the post-prime ministers

While the United States is moving toward rapprochement with Russia, the Eurobureaucracy is still trying to resist Moscow by clinging to sanctions. EU postpresidents have agreed on the 16th package of measures against Russia. According to the media, the restrictions include a ban on imports of primary aluminum, 73 new ships of the "shadow" fleet and 13 banks may be included in the sanctions lists. At the same time, Brussels refrains from imposing restrictions on gas supplies due to the position of Slovakia and Hungary. The EU itself is suffering from the sanctions, even the political elites of its largest economy - Germany - are speaking out about the need to restore relations with Moscow one day. Whether the next package of measures against Russia could be the last - in the material of "Izvestia".

What is included in the new package of sanctions

Plenipotentiary representatives of the EU countries agreed on a new, 16th, package of sanctions against Russia. According to the media, the restrictions include a ban on imports of primary aluminum, chromium and some chemicals. According to Politico, Greece expressed its concerns about the restrictions on aluminum, but it was able to convince to join the common decision.

At the same time, imports of aluminum from Russia have already been banned in the U.S. and Britain, and the European Union earlier imposed sanctions against imports of Russian wire, foil and pipes made of this metal. Russia is one of the largest producers of aluminum, but supplies to the EU have been gradually declining over the past few years: the share of our aluminum in the Union's exports fell from 19% in 2022 to 6% in 2024. The reduction in Russian supplies was offset by imports from India and Southeast Asia. The Russian Federation, on the other hand, redirected aluminum exports to Asian markets, particularly China.

The new package also contains a ban on maintenance of gas and oil refineries. Earlier, a group of ten states - Denmark, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Estonia, Finland and the Czech Republic - proposed to limit imports of blue fuel from Russia to the European market. Against this background, purchases of Russian LNG by European consumers are breaking records. According to Rystad Energy, EU imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia in 2024 amounted to almost 17.8 million tons against 15.1 million tons a year earlier.

The restrictions in this area were opposed by Slovakia and Hungary, which depend on pipeline supplies of Russian gas. As a reminder, Ukraine stopped transit to Slovakia through its territory on January 1. Supplies of Russian blue fuel are now possible only through the Turkish Stream, Bratislava is also negotiating the resumption of transit through Ukraine. Against the backdrop of Russia-US negotiations, the supply situation may change, especially due to demands for elections in Ukraine, Marian Carey, head of the Slovak parliament's foreign affairs committee, told Izvestia.

- In my opinion, if it was (ban on gas imports from Russia. - Ed.) in the program, there are states in the European Union that will not agree. For example, Slovakia, Hungary and others," he said.

In addition, restrictions will be imposed against 13 banks, as well as 73 ships that are part of the "shadow fleet" for crude oil exports. According to EC chief Ursula von der Leyen, the measures are aimed at countering sanctions circumvention. Another 48 individuals and 35 legal entities are planned to be added to the blacklists, sources told Reuters. Eight Russian media outlets may be banned, but no specific broadcasters were named. Back in May 2024, Brussels banned a number of Russian media outlets, including Izvestia and RIA Novosti, from broadcasting on the territory of the association countries.

It is noteworthy that the 16th package includes a ban on the sale of game consoles, joysticks and flight simulators in Russia. Head of EU diplomacy Kaja Kallas previously admitted that the Russian Armed Forces use these devices to control drones. According to the FT, the EU ban will target individual sellers from the association's member states who are still sending game consoles to Russia. At the same time, the three largest manufacturers of game consoles - American Microsoft and Japanese Nintendo and Sony - stopped selling in Russia back in March 2022.

Why the EU is becoming increasingly divided over sanctions

While agreeing on a new package of restrictions, Hungary managed to secure exemptions from the sanctions regime. In particular, Budapest can continue to use Russian crude oil products and equipment to maintain the Druzhba pipeline, which delivers oil to Central Europe, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said. He also confirmed that his country had prevented sanctions against Patriarch Kirill, the Russian Olympic Committee and two soccer teams.

The EU continues to increase sanctions pressure amid the past talks between Russian and US representatives in Riyadh. Moreover, Brussels is discussing which country and how much it will pay Ukraine after Washington's financial support ends, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

The EU's actions are a signal of disagreement with US policy. The inertial nature of Brussels' policy is showing, but as EU leaders realize their new position, the situation may change, Vladimir Shapovalov, deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics at Moscow State University, told Izvestia.

- If the situation does not develop according to a dramatic scenario, the 16th package of sanctions may turn out to be the last," the expert summarized.

The previous lists of measures caused serious damage to the European economy, which lost the Russian market and cheap energy resources. For example, in 2023, Germany's GDP decreased by 0.3%, in 2024 - by 0.2%, reported the German Statistical Service. The main blow fell precisely on the manufacturing industry, which lost 3% of its volume. In 2023, ten out of 27 EU countries faced economic recession, with Estonia being the "anti-leader".

For this reason, political parties advocating normalization of relations with Russia are strengthening their positions in the EU. In particular, in Germany, according to polls, the Alternative for Germany party is in second place. Its leader, Alice Weidel, has declared her intention to end the policy of sanctions, which harms Berlin. However, even Friedrich Merz, the chairman of the Christian Democratic Union, which is leading in the election race and has not previously distinguished itself by its benevolent stance toward Russia, said that one day a serious attempt should be made to re-establish good relations with Russia.

The preparation of the 16th package of restrictions shows that the sanctions pressure on Russia is not working, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev told Izvestia. He emphasized that apart from the anti-Russian core in the EU, no one considers this policy to be a tool for settling the situation in Ukraine.