COMMISSION TABLES 20TH RUSSIA SANCTIONS PACKAGE
On 5 February 2026, the European Commission its 20th EU sanctions package against Russia since the start of the war, structured around energy, financial services and trade. A central element is a proposed full ban on maritime services for Russian crude oil. The Commission explicitly links this to the international nature of shipping and signalled that, “given that shipping is a global sector,” the EU would seek to introduce this in coordination with like-minded partners following a G7 decision.
On trade, the proposal tightens export and import restrictions. It introduces new export bans “from rubber to tractors and cybersecurity services” (the Commission values these bans at over €360 million) and new import bans on metals, chemicals and critical minerals (valued at over €570 million). The Commission also envisages further restrictions on items and technologies supporting Russia’s battlefield effort, including materials used to produce explosives (notably referenced in public reporting as including ammonia), and proposes a quota on ammonia to cap existing imports.
The package also further targets Russia’s ability to circumvent oil restrictions through its so-called “shadow fleet.” The Commission proposal would add 43 vessels, bringing the total number of listed vessels to 640. In parallel, the Commission proposes additional measures to make it harder for Russia to acquire tankers for this fleet and to restrict certain services linked to Russia’s gas export capacity.
Finally, the Commission proposes to activate an anti-circumvention tool by restricting exports of sensitive products (specifically mentioned: computer numerical control machines and radios) to jurisdictions where there is a high risk of re-export to Russia.