The European Union has proposed banning all Russian soldiers who have served since the start of the war in Ukraine from entering its territory, as part of a broad 21st package of sanctions against Moscow. Announcing the measures on Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was acting to ensure "Europe stays off limits for anyone who has participated in the invasion of Ukraine." The proposal, which must be agreed unanimously by all 27 member states and could be amended before adoption, marks the first time such a visa ban on combatants has been put forward by the EU.
The package goes well beyond the entry ban. Brussels is also proposing to maintain a price cap on Russian oil at $44 per barrel until January 2027, a measure designed to prevent the Kremlin from benefiting from rising crude prices linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz — the strategically vital waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to global shipping lanes. The EU further intends to add 30 vessels to its blacklist of "shadow fleet" tankers, ships used to transport Russian oil in ways that circumvent western sanctions, bringing the total under restrictions to over 660. An additional 20 banks, cryptocurrency firms and oil traders in third countries deemed to be helping Russia evade sanctions are also targeted.
The push for a soldier entry ban was championed in particular by Estonia, a small Baltic state that shares a border with Russia and has been among the EU's most hawkish voices on sanctions. Estonia's foreign minister warned earlier this year that hundreds of thousands of returning ex-combatants posed a direct security risk, citing ongoing hybrid operations — a term used to describe covert destabilisation tactics — by Russian agencies inside the EU. The new package also extends sanctions for the first time to Russian fish imports, including cod, and proposes banning Russian metals, ores and car parts worth €60 million, as well as restricting EU exports of materials used in aerospace and defence manufacturing.
One notable omission from the package is a restriction on alumina exports from Ireland. Investigative journalists recently revealed that alumina — a material derived from bauxite ore and used to produce aluminium — refined at the Russian-owned Aughinish plant in County Limerick feeds into Russian supply chains linked to weapons manufacturing. The plant employs 900 people and supplies roughly 30% of the EU's alumina. EU officials say there are currently no alternative sources not controlled by Russian or Chinese companies, a constraint that has so far shielded the facility from sanctions.
Von der Leyen also confirmed the EU will open the first formal negotiating chapters with Ukraine and Moldova on rule of law and democratic standards next week, advancing both countries' bids for membership. The announcement comes as Ukraine separately reported recovering more than 600 square kilometres of territory since the start of 2026, suggesting a potential shift in battlefield momentum after years of Russian advances. The EU has backed Ukraine not only with sanctions but with substantial financial support, releasing a further €2.8 billion in aid on Monday as part of a broader €50 billion assistance fund established in 2024.