EU rules out easing Russia sanctions

Valdis Dombrovskis said on May 22 that the European Union would not loosen sanctions on Russia, even as Brussels cut its growth outlook and warned that inflation would rise because of a new energy shock. The European Commission vice president and economy chief made the remarks in an interview with Euronews, drawing a line against any return to cheaper Russian oil or gas as governments absorb the costs of higher energy prices. His comments came as the bloc weighs slower growth at home against a sanctions regime it has continued to expand since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The dispute is no longer only about pressure on Moscow; it is also about whether Europe keeps a harder line than some allies that have shown more willingness to adjust parts of their sanctions approach. ### What exactly did Dombrovskis say about easing pressure on Moscow? Valdis Dombrovskis told Euronews that the EU would not ease sanctions on Russia despite weaker growth and higher inflation forecasts tied to the energy shock from the Iran war. Euronews reported that he rejected the idea of seeking relief through renewed Russian energy flows and said the bloc should not turn back to Russian gas or oil. (euronews.com) The European Commission had just downgraded the EU’s economic growth forecast and warned that inflation would be higher than previously expected. Dombrovskis’ intervention linked that economic strain to a political choice: the EU would keep sanctions in place even if the near-term cost to households and businesses rose. (euronews.com) ### How large is the sanctions hit that Britain says Russia has taken? The House of Commons Library said in a briefing published on April 30 that the British government estimates sanctions have denied Russia access to at least $450 billion since February 2022. The same briefing said that figure includes $285 billion in immobilised Russian central-bank reserves held in EU and G7 countries. (euronews.com) The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office published the underlying estimate in June 2025, saying sanctions had deprived the Russian state of at least $450 billion in war funds between February 2022 and June 2025. The Commons Library used that estimate in its review of how UK, EU and U.S. sanctions policy had changed since January 2025. ### What has Brussels done recently, beyond the rhetoric? (commonslibrary.parliament.uk) The European Commission said on April 23 that EU member states had adopted a 20th package of sanctions against Russia. The Commission said the package was intended to increase pressure on Russia to negotiate on terms acceptable to Ukraine. The new package added measures across energy, shipping, trade, finance and anti-circumvention, according to the Commission and summaries published by Sweden’s government and legal advisers. (gov.uk) Sweden’s foreign ministry said the package targeted Russian energy revenues, the shadow fleet, sanctions evasion, crypto services and access to sensitive technology. (ec.europa.eu) ### Why is this becoming a test of allied unity? Politico reported this week that EU officials were angered by a British move to roll back planned sanctions on some Russian-origin fuel products without prior notice to G7 partners. That episode underscored a wider concern in Brussels that allied sanctions policy could become less coordinated even while the EU is adding new restrictions. (ec.europa.eu) The House of Commons Library said in its April 30 briefing that U.S. policy had diverged from allies in some areas since January 2025. The same paper described sanctions as still extensive across the UK, EU, U.S. and partners, but noted questions over whether Washington’s approach was moving out of step with Europe’s. ### What comes next for the EU sanctions file? April 23 is the latest confirmed milestone in the EU process, with the 20th package now in force and member states continuing to defend the regime publicly. (politico.eu) Any further tightening would require another formal package from the Council and Commission, while enforcement will depend on how aggressively member states pursue evasion and shadow-fleet activity. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk) The next public test is likely to come at meetings with G7 partners, where European officials will have to defend keeping pressure on Moscow while growth slows and energy costs stay elevated. Dombrovskis’ May 22 remarks set out the Commission’s position before that next round of allied coordination. (euronews.com) (ec.europa.eu)