The European Commission on June 9 proposed its 21st sanctions package against Russia, including a first-ever entry ban on anyone who has served in the Russian armed forces since the start of the war in Ukraine, a freeze on the oil price cap adjustment mechanism, restrictions on cryptocurrency infrastructure used for sanctions evasion, and a ban on Russian fish imports [1][4][6]. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the measures alongside EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas, who described the package as "the largest set of listings in over two years, with over 170 proposals, notably on the financial sector, energy, and drones' production" [4].
The entry ban is the package's most novel instrument. Von der Leyen stated: "We propose for the first time to ban from entry into the European Union anyone who has served in the Russian armed forces since the beginning of the war. So Europe stays off limit for anyone who has participated in the invasion of Ukraine, as simple as that" [3]. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna framed the measure in security terms, warning that "Putin will push these people to Europe. Can you imagine these hundreds of thousands of ex-combatants, criminals coming here? I am sure they are not going to just work and pay all taxes. No, they are going to do many bad things" [3]. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the initiative as an important step in response to Russian aggression [23]. Le Monde described the ban as a first-of-its-kind measure to keep Europe "off-limits" to invasion participants [11], while the Russian business daily Kommersant reported the proposal using the Russian official terminology of "participants in the SVO" (special military operation) [20].
The entry ban exists in tension with a separate policy change taking effect on June 12: the placement of Russia on the EU's list of countries whose citizens face accelerated asylum procedures, triggered by an 18.1 percent recognition rate [10]. Human rights defender Darya Dadli called the accelerated processing "это победа абсурда над здравым смыслом, полное пренебрежение к человеческим жизням и человеческому достоинству" (a victory of absurdity over common sense, complete disregard for human lives and human dignity) [10]. Politician Andrey Pivovarov, representing the Anti-War Committee's "Consuls," requested that the EU prepare separate recommendations for Russia so that politically vulnerable categories — anti-war activists, deserters, journalists, and LGBTQ+ individuals — are not funneled into accelerated or border procedures [10]. The entry ban targets those who served in the Russian military, while the asylum rule change affects all Russian applicants; the two measures converge on the population of deserters and conscientious objectors who may seek protection in Europe.
On energy, von der Leyen announced a freeze on the oil price cap's built-in market-following adjustment mechanism, stating: "It was not made for market shocks like the one caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz" [1]. ANSA reported the cap would be frozen at $44 until January 2027 [17], while Euronews Arabic cited a figure of $44.10 [24]. Tagesschau cited a Finnish think tank's findings and German economic ministry data indicating that Russian energy revenues had declined by approximately 40 percent at the beginning of 2026 [8]. Kallas stated that "brick by brick, we are collapsing the foundations of Russia's war economy" [1].
The package also targets cryptocurrency infrastructure for the first time on a systemic basis. El País reported that the EU's approach treats the entire crypto ecosystem — exchanges, stablecoins, offshore intermediaries, and non-Russian platforms facilitating Russian transactions — as a geopolitical security problem rather than targeting individual entities [2]. Von der Leyen stated: "Tomaremos medidas contra las criptomonedas, las empresas que las comercian y las plataformas que facilitan el comercio cripto para cerrar una vía de evasión" (We will take measures against cryptocurrencies, the companies that trade them, and the platforms that facilitate crypto trading to close an avenue of evasion) [2]. TVP World reported that the EU plans for the first time to punish crypto companies outside Russia that assist Moscow in evading restrictions [16].
Sanctions enforcement gaps remain a point of contention. Ukraine's Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy Vladyslav Vlasiuk stated that a journalistic investigation had exposed "a large-scale scheme in which the Belarusian logistics holding Jenty adapted to EU sanctions pressure," warning that "the same transport networks can be used not only for delivering medicines but also for goods critical to Russia's military-industrial complex, including microelectronics" [9]. Separately, The Guardian reported that alumina refined at the Russian-owned Aughinish plant in Ireland feeds into Russian supply chains for weapons manufacturing, a loophole not addressed in the current package [3]. An OCCRP investigation found that a trader supplied over 40 sanctioned Russian arms manufacturers using alumina from the Aughinish refinery [15]. RTÉ reported that the plant has not been included in EU sanctions despite political and public pressure [13], while Euronews noted that about 45 percent of the plant's sales went to Russia in 2025 [14]. Politico Europe reported that Kallas was expected to raise the issue with the Irish government during a visit to Dublin [7].
The package also proposes blacklisting 14 companies based in mainland China and Hong Kong for helping Russia evade sanctions [5][18]. RFI's Chinese-language service reported this detail prominently [18], while Xinhua's coverage of the same package did not name specific Chinese companies [19].
The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed the EU's sanctions policy as destructive and incapable of altering Russia's foreign policy course [21]. Von der Leyen offered a different assessment, stating: "The price Russia pays is heavier by the day, and it is paid primarily by the people of Russia. They are mourning sons, brothers, husbands, and at the same time they face declining living standards at home" [5].
The proposed package is expected to be discussed at an upcoming EU foreign ministers' meeting before member states vote on adoption [8]. The accelerated asylum processing rules for Russian citizens take effect on June 12 [10].