Ukraine and EU Partners Prepare 20th Sanctions Package Targeting Russian Energy Profits

Zelenskyy Announces New Sanctions Initiative

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on November 9, 2025, that Ukraine, in collaboration with its European Union partners, is actively preparing a 20th package of sanctions against the Russian Federation. The forthcoming measures are designed to target individuals and entities that continue to profit from Russia's energy sector.

During his evening address, President Zelenskyy stated that the content of this new package is expected to be finalized 'within a month'. He emphasized the importance of increasing pressure on all aspects of the Russian economy that fuel its military actions.

Key Targets of the 20th Sanctions Package

The primary focus of the proposed 20th sanctions package will be on 'Russian legal entities and individuals that are still profiting from energy resources,' according to President Zelenskyy. This initiative underscores Ukraine's ongoing efforts to diminish Russia's financial capacity to sustain its full-scale invasion.

Beyond energy-related targets, Zelenskyy also proposed including:

• Individuals involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children, calling for 'truly global pressure' against such actions.
• Schemes that enable Russian military production, aiming for 'substantially increased pressure' on these networks.

The President highlighted that many Russian missiles and drones contain components from other countries, stressing the need to disrupt these supply chains.

Context of Previous Sanctions and Ongoing Efforts

The announcement of the 20th package follows closely on the heels of the EU's 19th sanctions package, which was approved on October 23, 2025. That package targeted Russian banks, energy revenues, and networks involved in circumventing existing restrictions. It also introduced measures against crypto platforms and banks facilitating sanctions evasion. Notably, the 19th package included a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) and stricter actions against Russia's 'shadow fleet'.

While Ukraine coordinates with its European partners, the process of adopting sanctions within the EU has sometimes faced challenges, with opposition from certain member states, including Hungary and Slovakia, occasionally delaying their implementation.

Ukraine's Independent Sanctions

On the same day as the announcement regarding the 20th EU package, Kyiv also imposed its own set of new sanctions. President Zelenskyy's office confirmed that these Ukrainian sanctions targeted eight senior Kremlin officials, including special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, and five Russian publishing houses. These measures were partly a response to recent Russian sanctions against Ukrainian officials.