On 19 July 2025, the Official Journal of the European Union published a new package of restrictive measures targeting the energy, banking, and military sectors of Russia and Belarus. Key provisions include:
- The inclusion of 14 individuals and 41 new entities held responsible for actions that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine.
- The maximum price for crude oil has been reduced from USD 60 to USD 47.6 per barrel, to reflect current global market conditions. A new automatic and dynamic mechanism has also been introduced to adjust this ceiling as necessary.
- An additional 105 vessels are now subject to bans on port access and the provision of maritime transport-related services. These services include financing and financial assistance (such as flag registration, insurance, and brokerage), as well as technical assistance, bunkering, ship supply, crew change services, and other port-related services, including cargo loading and unloading, fender operations, and tugboat services.
- From 21 January 2026, EU operators will be prohibited from purchasing, importing, or transferring to the Union petroleum products classified under heading 2710 that were produced in a third country using Russian crude oil. Exemptions apply to products originating from Canada, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Provision of related technical or financial assistance will also be prohibited. Furthermore, petroleum products imported from a net exporter of crude oil—a country that exported more crude oil than it imported in the previous calendar year—will be presumed to have been derived from its own domestic crude oil rather than from Russian-origin crude. The European Commission will issue guidance on the implementation of this ban, particularly with regard to the evidentiary requirements that operators must meet.
- A new provision allows for the prohibition of transactions with third-country entities found to be circumventing oil-related sanctions. EU operators will be barred from conducting transactions with such entities.
- To prevent sanctions evasion via third countries, particularly concerning exports of advanced technology products, Member States—and especially customs and export control authorities—are granted additional tools to monitor shipments to third countries. These measures allow for the detention and investigation of suspicious consignments when there is a risk of diversion to Russia.
- Annex VII of Regulation (EU) 833/2014 is amended to include six chemical compounds used in the production of solid-state propellants, along with two types of computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools employed in the manufacture of battlefield equipment.
- Annex XXIII of Regulation (EU) 833/2014 is also revised to introduce further export restrictions on machinery and equipment—particularly those used in the energy sector, such as gas turbines—along with chemical substances used as industrial raw materials, specific metals including refined copper and copper products, aluminium and aluminium products, steel products, and plastics.
- Annexes Va, XVIII, XIVa, and XIX of Regulation (EU) 765/2006 are amended to reinforce restrictions on the export of sensitive goods and technologies. These changes cover goods that may enhance Belarusian industrial capabilities, as well as machinery and items subject to existing transit bans.
For further details, please refer to the full text of the adopted measures, published in the Official Journal of the European Union:
- OJ L REGULATIONS 1472, 19.07.2025
- OJ L REGULATIONS 1494, 19.07.2025
- OJ L DECISION 1471, 19.07.2025
- OJ L DECISION 1495, 19.07.2025
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