EU Says Russia Sanctions Stay Until War Ends
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on 16 October 2026 that the European Union will not lift any sanctions on Russia unless Russia stops the war. She spoke as EU leaders gathered at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium, for an EU summit. The Guardian
The second day of the 15-16 October European Council meeting was scheduled to focus on Ukraine and European defence and security. European Council EU leaders also adopted conclusions on competitiveness, the long-term EU budget and enlargement.
Sanctions, government restrictions on trade and finance used to pressure Moscow, were a central theme. The Commission has said the EU will go after those helping Russia to circumvent sanctions or replenish its war arsenal. In recent days the Council agreed what it described as its largest-ever package of listings targeting almost 1,600 individuals and entities in Russia's military-industrial complex, listed individuals and entities for circumventing EU sanctions, and prolonged restrictive measures against Russia's hybrid activities until October 2027.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the EU must continue to support Ukraine, otherwise it is making things far too easy for the Russians. She warned that Ukraine is running out of funds because fighting a war is expensive and Ukraine cannot produce needed equipment, particularly for air defence. She said the EU must ensure sufficient funding for Ukraine is in place for 2027.
Frederiksen also warned that Russia seeks to seize parts of Europe and wages war against Europe every day, directly in Ukraine and through hybrid war against the rest of Europe. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the situation in Ukraine as "really grave," saying there were no signs from Russia that it wants to stop the war or enter any truce or peace. Kallas said the EU needs to support Ukraine to get through the winter because winter is going to be harsh.
On financing, Kallas said the EU has agreed it will not return frozen Russian assets, funds blocked under sanctions, unless Russia pays reparations for Ukraine. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said severe pressure on Ukraine needs a European response, including opening accession clusters in Ukraine's bid to join the EU and deploying the EU's €90bn loan to Ukraine as soon as possible.
The question of relations with Washington also arose. Kallas said the EU is trying to convince American partners that more pressure needs to be put on Moscow, describing talks with the United States as very difficult. Martin said he hoped Europe can continue its "outreach" to the United States over Ukraine. Frederiksen dismissed media reports that European leaders had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to tone down criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump, saying she had not heard any European leaders say that.
