EU Prepares 22nd Russia Sanctions as Prisoner Swap Agreed
Ursula von der Leyen announced new EU sanctions and funding for Ukraine while Russia and Ukraine agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in Dublin that the European Union is preparing its 22nd sanctions package against Russia and a proposal to fund Ukraine's financial needs for 2027. Both measures are scheduled for presentation before the European Council meeting on November 26-27.
The upcoming sanctions package targets banks, cryptocurrencies, and crypto platforms, with a focus on closing circumvention loopholes via third countries. Potential new restrictions include visa bans for Russian ex-combatants and a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes in international sporting events held within the EU. EU official Kaja Kallas advocated for the athletic ban, arguing that such measures target the prestige sought by Vladimir Putin.
In a separate development, trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States concluded in Abu Dhabi. Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky reported that Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement on a large-scale prisoner exchange. The delegations also discussed humanitarian issues and security arrangements for the post-war period.
