EU Prepares New Sanctions Package Targeting 1,600 Russian Entities

The EU is preparing an expansion of its sanctions regime against Russia, with plans to add approximately 1,600 individuals and entities to restrictive lists. According to a Politico report citing three European diplomats, the proposed sanctions package will be discussed at the upcoming EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Ireland, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. One diplomat noted that the working list of candidates for the new sanctions includes around 800 physical persons and 800 legal entities. The sources indicated that the overall goal is a significant expansion of existing restrictive measures, with a target adoption date in mid-October. During the upcoming meetings, diplomats are also expected to revisit the highly contentious issue of utilizing frozen Russian sovereign assets to aid Ukraine, an effort that remains stalled due to ongoing opposition from Belgium regarding potential legal liabilities. Resurrected push to utilize frozen assets The renewed discussion on sanctions coincides with a coordinated effort by Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands, and Spain to pressure the European Commission into reviving a stalled plan to harness approximately €200 billion ($232 billion) in immobilized Russian assets, held primarily at the Brussels-based depository Euroclear. The original proposal for a €210 billion ($243 billion) “reparations loan” collapsed at a European summit last December after Belgian leader Bart De Wever blocked the measure, citing the risk of Russian legal retribution. Other Topics of Interest Russia Extends Fuel Export Ban Amid Record Refinery Strikes Russia extends its ban on diesel exports until Sept. 30 as a record wave of Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries triggers severe domestic fuel shortages. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken reiterated on Friday that utilizing the assets remains “non-negotiable,” explicitly warning Baltic states against continually cornering Belgium on the issue. However, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot recently indicated that flexibility might be possible if legal liabilities are shared equally among all EU member states. The diplomatic push comes as Ukraine faces severe financial strain heading into the winter. President Volodymyr Zelensky recently stated that his administration is facing a €23.1 billion ($26.7 billion) defense funding gap that must be addressed to sustain operations, as funds originally allocated for the second half of the year were spent early to accelerate military procurement and long-range strike campaigns. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.