EU adopts 21st package of sanctions against Russia
The package introduces trade bans on aerospace metals, restricts energy and crypto sectors, and targets 51 entities to prevent circumvention.
EU member states have adopted the 21st package of sanctions against Russia, which prioritizes new trade restrictions to limit specific supply chains.
According to the EC release (July 22, 2026), the package introduces new export bans on certain metal powders and alloys used in the aerospace sector and drone production, as well as restrictions on related technologies such as jamming equipment. New import bans are also established for goods including metal ores.
To address trade circumvention, the package adds 51 entities supporting the military-industrial complex to the restricted list, including 24 established in Russia and 27 in third countries, namely China, Türkiye, Kyrgyzstan, India, Kazakhstan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These trade-related provisions are mirrored in the Belarus sanctions regime, which adds four Belarusian entities to the restricted defense and security list.
Other measures in the package restrict the energy, finance, and crypto sectors. Energy provisions include suspending the adaptation of the oil price cap until July 2027 and applying a transaction ban to the Kulevi refinery, which would become effective after a six-month delay. Financial and crypto restrictions apply transaction bans to more than 100 banks and prohibit Russian nationals from owning or serving on the boards of crypto service companies.