EU Preparing 22nd Russia Sanctions Package, Von der Leyen Says
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Dublin on November 12, 2026, that the EU is preparing a 22nd sanctions package against Russia and a plan to cover Ukraine's 2027 financing needs. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged a ceasefire first.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday, November 12, 2026, that the European Union is preparing a 22nd sanctions package against Russia, along with a plan to cover Ukraine's financial needs in 2027.
She spoke to reporters at the start of the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Dublin. The announcement signals that Brussels intends to keep up economic pressure on Moscow while peace talks continue.
Von der Leyen said the Commission would bring both items forward soon. "We will come with the sanctions package and the proposal for the financial needs before the next European Council," she said. She did not give a date for either proposal or describe what the new sanctions would target.
Support for Ukraine and the Abu Dhabi talks
Von der Leyen also welcomed the peace talks in Abu Dhabi. She welcomed the fact that Europeans are represented there to safeguard the bloc's interests.
On Ukraine, she was direct about the length of the commitment. "We will support Ukraine, be it in wartime or be it in peacetime," she said.
Kallas: ceasefire first
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters the talks need a clear order of steps. "There should be a right sequencing first to have a ceasefire so that the bombing of civilians really stops, and then sit down, talk over the peace agreement," she said.
Only after that, Kallas said, can the parties discuss the peace and security architecture of Europe. She also stressed the need to make sure Russia keeps to its obligations.
She warned against moving too fast to the wider security question. "Right now, taking the focus to the European security architecture is actually diverting the attention away from where it actually should be, which is ceasefire stopping the killing in Ukraine," Kallas said.
Britain and the EU
Kallas was also asked about Britain rejoining the European Union. She said she would "very much like" it, but cautioned that the bloc had "trauma" from Britain's departure.
"So the negotiations will not be that easy," she said. She added that small steps were possible, and that she was confident that "if we are together, we are much stronger when it comes to the economy, but when it also comes to security."
The 22nd package and the 2027 funding proposal are both due before the next European Council meeting, according to von der Leyen.
