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EU Moves to Cripple Russian War Machine With 18th Sanctions Targeting Oil Lifeline and Shadow Fleet
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
The European Union has adopted what officials are calling one of its strongest sanctions packages to date against Russia, as part of ongoing efforts to curtail Moscow’s war economy, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated on July 18.
“We’re cutting the Kremlin’s war budget further, going after 105 more shadow fleet ships, their enablers, and limiting Russian banks’ access to funding,” Kallas said.
We are standing firm.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) July 18, 2025
The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions package against Russia to date.
We’re cutting the Kremlin’s war budget further, going after 105 more shadow fleet ships, their enablers, and limiting Russian banks’ access to funding. (1/3)
The sweeping 18th package of EU sanctions was approved by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) early Thursday morning.
“The 18th sanctions package against Russia was approved this morning by Coreper. It was the only item on the agenda,” one EU diplomat told Ukrainian media outlet Ukrainska Pravda. The package is expected to receive formal approval later today at the EU General Affairs Council.
Among the key measures:
Sanctions on 105 ships in Russia’s shadow fleet used to evade oil export restrictions;
A ban on building or operating the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines;
A lower price cap on Russian oil, part of a dynamic pricing mechanism to cut Kremlin revenues;
Tighter restrictions on Russian banks and sanctions on Chinese financial institutions helping Moscow circumvent existing sanctions;
Export bans on drone-related technology used by Russia’s military;
Sanctions against Rosneft’s largest oil refinery in India;
Penalties targeting individuals involved in the ideological indoctrination of Ukrainian children.
Green light - 🇪🇺 ambassadors have passed the 🇷🇺 sanctions. Formal approval later today https://t.co/EiL0gStaN7
— Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) July 18, 2025
“Green light—EU ambassadors have approved the sanctions. Formal adoption will follow later today,” Radio Free Europe editor Rikard Jozwiak confirmed.
Earlier, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that Slovakia will back the European Union’s 18th sanctions package targeting Russia. This decision follows discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, resulting in guarantees related to gas prices for Slovakia.
