Austria Backs 19th Package Of EU Sanctions Against Russia

• 18.10.2025, 18:53

Austria's position was the main obstacle to the adoption of the 19th sanctions package.

Austria has agreed to support new sanctions against Russia imposed over the war in Ukraine, reversing its previous position that remained a key obstacle to the adoption of the 19th package, writes German Wave.

"Austria supports continued pressure on Russia and will approve the 19th package of sanctions on Monday," the Austrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

European Union foreign ministers are due to meet on Monday, October 20, in Luxembourg, where they plan to finalize the 19th package of sanctions against Russia for its incursion into Ukraine.

As previously reported, the adoption of the package has stalled as Vienna insisted on compensating Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) for the fine it received in Russia. However, other EU governments did not support this demand. All 27 EU member states need unanimity to approve the package. Slovakia has also expressed doubts about the new sanctions package, but according to four EU diplomats, the European Commission expects that all of Bratislava's concerns have been resolved.

Contents of the 19th sanctions package

The 19th package is expected to include restrictions in the areas of finance and energy, including a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas from January 1, 2027, a year earlier than the previously scheduled date of January 1, 2028.

The new restrictions are also likely to affect a number of other Russian tankers, the use of cryptocurrencies, Russian and Central Asian banks, Chinese oil refineries, and the operation of a number of economic zones, which are Moscow's customs loophole for importing dual-use goods.