The European Union’s 19th package of sanctions against Russia may be approved on Oct. 23, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said during a foreign affairs council in Luxembourg on Oct. 20.
“We are expecting this week, also, to adopt a 19th package of sanctions. Unfortunately, not today, but we have also a leaders’ meeting coming up on Thursday (Oct. 23),” Kallas said.
The package, unveiled by the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Kallas on Sept. 19, includes a complete import ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), with the measure expected to take effect in January 2027 and expanding sanctions on Russia’s shadow fleet, including 118 new vessels.
She said EU ministers are also working to tighten enforcement against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of vessels allegedly helping Moscow bypass Western oil-export restrictions.
“We also are doing the coordination regarding the shadow fleet, because we see that there is a lot of revenues coming from the shadow fleet, and we have really made efforts regarding curbing the revenues from the shadow fleet. We have made a lot of progress if we see how it is really working on Russia. So, we should think about it more, to be more creative in this regard, because they are also creative in bypassing those things,” she said.
In her statement, Kallas emphasized the bloc’s united stand against Russia, indicating a continued effort to pressure Moscow amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Kallas stressed that Russia “only understands strength” and shows no genuine interest in peace despite recent diplomatic overtures by US president Donald Trump, who is expected to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin in Budapest.
“Of course, all efforts for peace are welcome, but we don’t see Russia really wanting peace. My wish would have been that it’s President Zelenskyy who meets Putin, because it’s actually them who have to agree on this,” she noted.
The EU foreign policy chief added: “As I said, they are meeting, but let’s see what is coming out of that meeting. I think it is important that President Zelenskyy also meets Putin, and they can discuss actually what they can do. If America has a lot of strength to pressure Russia to come to the negotiation table, if they use that, then, of course, this is good if Russia stops this war.”
Trump confirmed on his Truth Social platform on Oct. 16 that he would meet in Hungary with Putin as the US leader continues to try to broker a peace deal to end the war, triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion.
