For the First Time, We Are Targeting Russia's Gas Sector: Von der Leyen

The European Union (EU) will impose sanctions on Russia's gas sector for the first time. This was announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the social media platform X.

“For the first time, we are targeting Russia's gas sector, the heart of Russia's wartime economy,” she wrote.

Von der Leyen added that the EU would continue to support Ukraine until a lasting peace is achieved.

On October 23, Reuters reported that the European Union officially confirmed a new, 19th package of sanctions against Russia. The new package includes more than 100 foreign-flagged tankers transporting Russian oil.

On the same day, the United States imposed sanctions on Russian oil companies. The new anti-Russian restrictions in the U.S. affected oil producers Rosneft and Lukoil.

According to Bloomberg, the measures aim to “further reduce Moscow's energy revenues and put pressure on Vladimir Putin to negotiate.” The package prohibits the import of liquefied natural gas from Russia starting January 2027, one year earlier than initially planned.