24.04.2026 12:06
The European Union (EU) has reached an agreement on providing Ukraine with a 90 billion euro loan for the 2026-2027 period and adopting the 20th sanctions package against Russia, following the lifting of Hungary's veto.
European Council President Antonio Costa stated in a statement on the social media platform of US-based company X that the goal of a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine would be achievable by strengthening Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia, and announced that a €90 billion loan package covering the 2026-2027 period has been released and new sanctions have been adopted.
EU TO PROVIDE €90 BILLION IN FINANCING TO UKRAINE
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also welcomed the member states' agreement on these decisions, noting that Russia continues its aggression, while the EU is increasing its support for Ukraine and intensifying pressure on Russia's war economy.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas stated that the previous deadlock has been overcome, paving the way for €90 billion in financing and a new sanctions package for Ukraine, adding that Russia's economy is under increasing pressure and support for Kyiv will continue.
ORBAN'S ELECTION LOSS ACCELERATED THE PROCESS
Negotiations within the EU on these packages had been stalled for some time, mainly due to Viktor Orban's veto. After Orban's departure from office, Hungary's objections were removed, and the process accelerated, resulting in a consensus.
Since Russia launched its war on Ukraine in 2022, the EU has provided financial, military, and humanitarian support to Kyiv while gradually expanding sanctions against Moscow. The newly adopted 20th sanctions package is said to target Russia's energy, finance, and defense sectors to limit its war capacity.
20TH SANCTIONS PACKAGE AGAINST RUSSIA APPROVED
A written statement was issued by the European Council regarding the details of the 20th sanctions package against Russia. The statement noted that the sanctions target key sectors financing Russia's war against Ukraine and that agreement was reached on 120 new individual designations.
The statement described the 20th sanctions package as the most comprehensive listing package in the last two years, stating, "The package underscores support for Ukraine's resistance against Russian aggression at a time when brutal attacks deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, continue."
The statement indicated that the package also includes the basis for a future maritime services ban on Russian crude oil and petroleum products, which will be implemented in full coordination and consultation with the G7. It added that an additional 46 vessels have been subjected to a port access ban and a ban on providing a wide range of maritime transport services, raising the total number of sanctioned vessels to 632.
SANCTIONS TO TARGET LNG AND OIL MARKETS
The statement noted that the 20th package also makes it harder for Russia to expand its "shadow fleet" by introducing mandatory due diligence checks on tanker sales and prohibits the provision of maintenance and other services to Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers and icebreakers.
Additionally, the statement emphasized that as of January 2027, providing LNG terminal services to Russian entities or entities owned or controlled by Russian citizens or operators will become illegal. It also stated that transactions involving the oil terminals at the ports of Murmansk and Tuapse in Russia and the Karimun Port in Indonesia, used to circumvent the oil price cap, are prohibited.
The statement announced that a transaction ban has been imposed on 20 Russian banks, and additionally, four financial institutions in third countries have been included in the transaction ban due to their roles in circumventing sanctions or their connections with Russia's banking messaging network. The statement also noted that Russia's military-industrial complex has been further restricted, emphasizing that 58 companies and associated individuals involved in the development and production of military products, particularly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have been added to the sanctions list.
To ensure accountability, the statement added that five individuals and one entity enabling the abduction, forced transfer, and ideological indoctrination of Ukrainian children have been added to the sanctions list, along with four individuals involved in the looting of Ukraine's cultural heritage.
Furthermore, the statement noted that four individuals engaged in propaganda activities, including those operating on state-backed platforms, have also been sanctioned, and Belarus's role in facilitating Russia's war of aggression has been targeted. The statement indicated that the 20th package includes three new listings linked to the Belarusian military-industrial complex.