The European Union plans to expand its sanctions against Russia with the most extensive package since the war began, expected to be introduced this autumn. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the current sanctions have already cost Russia over €1 trillion, severely damaging its war machine. [1, 2, 3]
Kallas stated, "EU sanctions have already cost Russia dearly, depriving Russia's war machine of over €1 trillion ($1.16 trillion) and for autumn I am putting forward the most far-reaching sanctions listings since the start of the war." She added that if adopted, the new list of sanctions would increase the number of sanctioned Russian individuals, companies, and organizations by one third immediately. [1, 2]
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has imposed 21 rounds of sanctions targeting approximately 3,000 individuals and entities. [4, 3] The most recent package was approved in July 2026 and focused on Russia's banking sector and cryptocurrency networks. [1, 5, 4, 3]
Kallas emphasized the need for continued pressure on Moscow, saying, "The pressure must keep growing until Moscow ends its war." She also highlighted the growing hybrid threats to Europe from Russia, including sabotage, espionage, and cyberattacks, as well as recent violations of Polish and Romanian airspace by Russian missiles. [1, 2]
She warned, "Such incidents are unacceptable, and they show Moscow’s growing ruthlessness. If we respond too weakly, we will see even more such incidents."
No further details on the contents or exact timing of the autumn sanctions package were disclosed by Kallas as of today. [1, 5, 4, 3]
