On Saturday, 14 March 2026, the Council of the European Union (EU) unanimously decided to extend for six months the restrictive measures against those responsible for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine. The sanctions are thus extended until 15 September 2026.
Latvia actively opposed any politically motivated attempts to remove specific individuals from the sanctions list. Once again, as a result of intensive negotiations, a united EU position has been reached, which does not allow for the weakening of sanctions against Russia. More than 2,700 sanctioned entities have been retained on the sanctions list.
As part of the regular review of each sanctions regime (every 6 months in the case of sanctions against Russia), the Legal Service of the EU Council provides its assessment of the legal basis of the evidence for sanctioned subjects, and the EU Council in its discussions carefully evaluates and takes an appropriate decision on the extension of sanctions.
As on earlier occasions, the process of extending this individual EU sanctions regime against Russia was complex; however, the EU Member States were able to maintain consensus and a united position–no person was removed from the sanctions list on the basis of political motivation.
A number of individuals subject to EU sanctions are also subject to sanctions imposed by other countries, including the United States, Canada, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand.
EU sanctions against Russia – since 2014
Since 2014, the European Union (EU) has been imposing sanctions on individuals and legal entities for actions that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine [1]. Among the individuals subject to EU sanctions are the Russian President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, other members of the government and the presidential administration, high-ranking officials and military personnel, representatives of the judiciary, companies important to the Kremlin regime and their leaders, oligarchs, propaganda figures, media outlets, and others who support the Kremlin’s aggressive policies.
The EU sanctions against Russia (both sectoral and individual) must be extended every six months. This requires the unanimity of all the 27 EU Member States. If EU Member States failed to reach an agreement within the specified period, the sanctions regime would not be extended and would cease to apply to all individuals and legal entities included in the sanctions list. The deadline for the Member States to agree on the extension of individual sanctions was 15 March 2026 [2].
Latvia’s Position
Latvia’s position is based on the statements of the Saeima of 24 February and 21 April 2022 on Ukraine, which called for the application of maximum sanctions, and on the decisions of the Cabinet, which were reapproved by the Informational Report adopted at the Cabinet meeting on 17 February 2026 on the matters to be considered at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 23 February 2026 (26-TA-387).
The Latvian Government holds a position that current sanctions should be extended until Russia has ceased its aggression, fully restored the territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, and compensated Ukraine for the losses caused. Latvia also advocates for the timely extension of EU sanctions against Russia, which is part of the EU’s support for Ukraine. It is important for Latvia that the individual sanctions regime for actions that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine be maintained. We categorically oppose any attempts to weaken sanctions, including politically motivated efforts to remove individuals from the sanctions list.
In accordance with Latvia’s national interests and the EU’s common sanctions policy, Latvia consistently advocates for the further strengthening of sanctions by actively participating in the work on the latest rounds of sanctions and proposing the inclusion of additional individuals and legal entities, shadow fleet ships, etc. in the sanctions list, in order to, in cooperation with our allies and partners, reduce Russia’s capabilities and budget revenues, and achieve an end to the aggression.
Negotiations on the extension of sanctions always take place behind closed doors.