EU Ambassadors Meet in Brussels to Finalize 21st Russia Sanctions

European Union ambassadors met in Brussels on July 22, 2026, in an effort to reach an agreement on the 21st package of sanctions targeting Russia. The meeting follows several failed attempts to finalize the deal due to internal friction among member states.

To secure a consensus, the EU has already removed several proposed measures from the package, including restrictions on the Russian fishing sector, a ban on Russian soldiers entering Europe, and sanctions against Russian Orthodox patriarch Kirill. Despite these concessions, Greece continues to oppose restrictions on Russian liquefied natural gas supplies.

Nerijus Aleksiejūnas, the ambassador of Lithuania to the EU, reported a growing fatigue among member states. He noted that officials are increasingly concerned that sanctions should not harm European economies more than they harm Russia. The ambassadors are attempting to clinch the deal before the summer holiday break.