Von der Leyen Reveals Details of EU’s 19th Sanctions Package Against Russia

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union is preparing its 19th package of sanctions against Russia.

Speaking after a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, von der Leyen confirmed that the new measures will target cryptocurrencies, banks, and the energy sector.

“Russia’s military economy, supported by fossil fuel revenues, is financing the bloodshed in Ukraine,” von der Leyen wrote on X.

“The Commission will soon present its 19th package of sanctions, targeting crypto, banks, and energy.Russia’s war economy, sustained by revenues from fossil fuels, is financing the bloodshed in Ukraine. To put an end to it, the Commission will propose speeding up the phase-out of Russian fossil imports.”

She emphasized that the EU would propose accelerating the phase-out of Russian fossil fuel imports, a step that goes further than current commitments under the REPowerEU framework. The move signals Brussels’ intent to strike at Moscow’s largest remaining source of revenue.

The EU’s Coordination with Washington

The announcement came after von der Leyen held a “fruitful conversation” with Trump, in which both leaders agreed to strengthen joint efforts to increase pressure on Moscow. However, the process has been complicated by U.S. demands.

Media outlets reported that Trump’s insistence on Europe taking tougher steps first delayed the official presentation of the sanctions package.

In particular, U.S. President Trump has conditioned further American sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine on all NATO members halting purchases of Russian oil.

This approach effectively shifts responsibility onto Europe, where some states—including Hungary and Slovakia—continue to rely on Russian energy imports.

For countries like Germany, the situation is more delicate, since tariffs on exports to India and China would be difficult to implement due to strong trade ties.

Political stakes for Ukraine

The 19th sanctions package is not just a European issue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly urged Trump to take a “clearly expressed position” on sanctions and security guarantees for Ukraine.

In Kyiv’s view, only a firm transatlantic line can stop Russia from exploiting loopholes in the global sanctions regime.

Zelenskyy warned that hesitation or partial measures risk emboldening the Kremlin, which continues to channel fossil fuel revenues into its war machine.

Previous delays and divisions

Work on the 19th sanctions package has already faced multiple postponements. Earlier, reports suggested EU states hoped to finalize the measures by the end of the week, but internal disagreements and external pressure from Washington have slowed the process.

The European Union has adopted 18 sanctions packages since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

While previous measures targeted individuals, technology transfers, and trade, the new focus on crypto flows and financial structures shows Brussels is seeking to tighten enforcement where Moscow has found ways to circumvent sanctions.

Outlook: unity under strain

The coming days will show whether the EU can overcome resistance from within and meet U.S. expectations. Accelerating the phase-out of Russian fossil fuels could be the most politically divisive element, as several member states remain deeply dependent.

Still, von der Leyen’s public statements underline that Brussels sees no alternative but to escalate economic measures. The 19th package is being presented as both a message of unity with Washington and a signal to Moscow that Europe is determined to keep tightening pressure to force the Kremlin to stop the war.