Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
It is unclear whether the entry ban would be permanent and if it would also include non-Russian individuals.
High-ranking individuals, ships from the Shadow Fleet, gas, oil, metals, raw materials, consumer goods.
If we began listing all the sanctions the EU has imposed on Russia and Russian individuals since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we could go on for the rest of the year. Now, however, the EU is working on a new round of sanctions.
This will be the 21st sanctions package from the Union, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has revealed some of the measures being discussed among European leaders.
This package could turn out to be one of the most wide-ranging yet.
Slamming the door
According to a report by European Pravda from Brussels, the next sanctions package will target individuals who chose to fight in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The proposal forms part of a much broader trade and travel clampdown. If passed, it would mean that anyone who took up arms for the Kremlin would be completely barred from entering the European Union.
Security is the main driver behind the change. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explained the move during a recent policy announcement, framing it as a necessary step to protect European borders.
“We propose for the first time to ban from entering the European Union anyone who has served in the Russian Armed Forces since the beginning of the war,” von der Leyen said at a press meeting.
She further stressed that “Europe remains off-limits to anyone who has participated in the invasion of Ukraine.”
It is unclear if the ban would include foreign nationals fighting for Russia.
In March, RBC-Ukraine reported that there are currently roughly 2.4 million personnel in the Russian Armed Forces. 1.5 million of those are active-duty personnel
Deadline approaching
European policymakers are currently drafting the 21st sanctions package against Moscow and are moving quickly to finalize it before the summer.
Officials want to approve the whole package by July 15. That date is crucial because it falls just before the current deadline for renewing the global price cap on Russian oil exports. Missing this deadline could weaken Western leverage over energy markets.
The restrictions will likely go far beyond travel bans for soldiers. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas told European Pravda on May 11 that the upcoming measures will also target other parts of the Russian economy.
Kallas noted that the new measures could target Russia’s military-industrial complex. European leaders also want to tighten restrictions on the shadow fleet of tankers that Moscow uses to secretly transport oil around the world. Cracking down on these vessels remains a high priority for Western allies.
