The European Union has rolled out another series of sanctions against Russia, intensifying global efforts to weaken the country’s financial and military capacity amid its ongoing war in Ukraine.
The new sanctions, announced Thursday, came just a day after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed fresh restrictions targeting Russia’s oil industry. Despite these measures, Russian officials and state-run media dismissed the moves as ineffective and politically motivated.
According to EU leaders, the sanctions are designed to cut off key revenue streams fueling President Vladimir Putin’s invasion and push Russia toward peace negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has repeatedly called for stronger global action, praised the decision, saying, “We waited for this. God bless, it will work. And this is very important.”
The EU package includes bans on Russian liquefied natural gas imports, restrictions on more than 100 ships linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” and new limits on cryptocurrency transactions and AI services provided to Russian firms. The bloc also plans to impose tighter travel restrictions on Russian diplomats.
Meanwhile, Trump’s sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil will take effect on November 21, allowing a short window for possible negotiations, AP reported. Analysts suggest the U.S. measures could eventually erode Russia’s oil revenue, particularly with their threat of secondary sanctions on third-party nations such as China and India.
Russia has downplayed the economic impact. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the U.S. move as “entirely counterproductive,” while former President Dmitry Medvedev accused Trump of “fully embarking on the path of war against Russia.”
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Analysts, however, warn that sanctions alone may not force Putin’s hand. Despite growing pressure, Russia’s economy remains resilient, though cracks are beginning to show.
As the war nears its fourth year, both sides continue to suffer heavy losses. Russian strikes have targeted Ukraine’s energy grid ahead of winter, while Ukrainian forces have hit back at Russian oil refineries and military production sites.
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