Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
On 23 April 2026, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/5081.
Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/508 imposed further restrictions in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, among others, constraining Russia’s shadow fleet by extending restriction to additional 46 vessels as well as reinforcing safeguards on tanker sales from the EU to prevent Russian end-use. 11 vessels are also delisted following their return to compliance. The Decision added two Russian ports a third country port (Karimun Oil Terminal in Indonesia) for their connections with the shadow fleet and circumvention of the oil price cap. It also included the basis for a future prohibition to transport Russian oil and petroleum products, in full coordination and discussion with the G7 and the Price Cap Coalition. This Decision also introduced a prohibition on maintenance services for Russian LNG tankers and icebreakers as well as a nan on LNG terminal services.
The Decision extended transaction ban to additional 20 Russian banks and four banks in Kyrgyzstan, Laos, and Azerbaijan; at the same time, 5 third-country financial entities are removed from the transaction ban following their commitments. It also included a ban on carrying out exchanges with any Russian crypto asset service provider as well as any decentralised platforms enabling crypto trading. Additionally, it introduced a prohibition to use the cryptocurrency RUBx and the digital rouble.
The Decision introduced new export and imports restrictions and bans, to further disrupt and weaken Russia’s military-industrial complex. The Decision also activated the anti-circumvention tool on the Kyrgyz Republic to prevent the sale, supply, transfer, or export to Russia of certain machine tools and certain telecommunication equipment imported from the EU and used for the manufacturing of drones and missiles in Russia. It added 60 entities to the list in Annex IV subject to stricter export restrictions.
The Decision adds further legal protection for EU firms against retaliatory actions of the Russian Government, by allowing lawsuits and damage claim in case of enforcement of abusive judgments. Moreover, it enables the Council to impose a transaction ban on third country firms and individuals cooperating in the enforcement of such actions. It introduced a transaction ban against Russian competitors taking advantage of de facto illegitimate expropriations of EU operators by the government of the Russian Federation as well as against those who steal and use intellectual property rights of EU operators in Russia against their consent.
The Decision targeted outlets mirroring content of listed propaganda media outlets online. The content of these mirror sites and domains will also be banned from distribution in the EU.
Finally, the Decision introduced a prohibition on the acceptance of funding, including donations or grants, from the Russian government in the area of research and innovation.
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Moldova (Republic of), Montenegro, North Macedonia and Ukraine align themselves with this Council Decision.
They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.
The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it.