The European Union has extended economic sanctions against Russia for six months

The Council of the European Union issued a statement saying that the EU has decided to extend economic sanctions against Russia for another six months until July 31, 2026.

Xinhua News Agency reported that the Council of the European Union issued a statement on Monday (December 22) saying that the EU's sanctions include a ban on the import or transshipment of crude oil and some petroleum products from Russia by sea to the EU. Exclude several Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Communications (SWIFT) system; Suspend the dissemination licenses of several media outlets that have been identified by the European side as "media providing false information supported by the Kremlin" within the European Union.

In addition, the European Union has also introduced special countermeasures against sanctions evasion.

The statement said that the above-mentioned sanctions cover multiple fields including trade, finance, energy, technology, dual-use military and civilian items, industry, and transportation.

The EU will continue to provide political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine, while preparing to further increase pressure on Russia, including imposing additional sanctions if necessary.