Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 22, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
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EU approves 19th sanctions package against Russia, banning LNG imports. Slovakia's concerns on energy prices were addressed. New travel restrictions on Russian diplomats included.
By Julia Payne
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -EU countries approved a 19th package of sanctions against Russia for its war against Ukraine, which includes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports, the Danish rotating presidency of the EU said on Wednesday.
"We are very pleased to announce that we have just been notified by the remaining member state that it’s now able to lift its reservation on the 19th sanctions package," it said.
Slovakia was the final hold-out after EU countries agreed on the final text last week. Slovakia's Prime Minister Fico wanted assurances from the European Commission on high energy prices and aligning climate targets with the needs of carmakers and heavy industry.
"Consequently, a written procedure for Council approval has been launched. If no objections are received, the package will be adopted tomorrow by 8 am," it added.
The LNG ban will take effect in two stages: short-term contracts will end after six months and long-term contracts from January 1, 2027. The full ban comes a year earlier than the Commission's roadmap to end the bloc's reliance on Russian fossil fuels.
The new package also adds new travel restrictions on Russian diplomats and lists 117 more vessels from Moscow's shadow fleet, mostly tankers, bringing the total to 558.
(Reporting by Julia Payne; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten, editing by Deepa Babington)
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state for ease of storage and transport. It is primarily composed of methane and is used as a cleaner alternative to other fossil fuels.
Economic sanctions are restrictive measures imposed by countries or international organizations to influence or punish a nation or group. They can include trade barriers, tariffs, and restrictions on financial transactions.
Sanctions can lead to reduced supply of energy resources, which may drive up prices. This can create volatility in energy markets and affect economies reliant on these resources.
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