STRASBOURG – Adam Szlapka, the Minister for European Affairs of Poland, confirmed on October 3, 2025, that the European Union (EU) is poised to approve its 16th sanctions package against Russia.

This announcement comes as the EU observes the third anniversary of the onset of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.

Szlapka made this statement during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, emphasizing the need for continued European resistance against Russia's actions in Ukraine.

The upcoming sanctions package is expected to further limit Russia’s capacity to sustain its military operations.

Szlapka confirmed that a second tranche of EUR 1.9 billion from frozen Russian assets will be allocated in April 2025, building on a prior release of EUR 1.5 billion last summer.

The use of immobilised Russian assets has been highlighted as a means of supporting Ukraine in both self-defence and reconstruction efforts.

In addition to these allocations, the European Union has committed to contributing to a G7 loan package for Ukraine, reinforcing its role as a primary supporter in the region.

Szlapka noted that total EU budgetary support to Ukraine in 2025 has exceeded EUR 30 billion.

Addressing the broader implications of the conflict, Szlapka stated that the consequences of the war extend beyond Ukraine, characterizing Russia’s actions as a direct threat to European stability and the global international system.

This assertion reflects a perspective that views the conflict as having created significant challenges to international relations, food security, and energy stability.

The 15th sanctions package against Russia was previously instituted on December 16, 2024. It included asset freezes on 54 individuals and 30 entities associated with Russia's military and energy sectors, notably for the first time targeting Chinese companies supplying drone components to Russia.

This move underlines the EU's commitment to revising and extending their sanctions framework in response to ongoing developments in the conflict.

In a separate development, Moldova’s Prime Minister, Dorin Recean, reported that the breakaway region of Transnistria has rejected a EUR 60 million aid offer from the European Union aimed at addressing energy shortages.

Recean attributed this rejection to concerns from Russia about maintaining control over the territory.

He stated that Moscow's influence continues to dictate the region's responses to international assistance, specifically highlighting a condition of the EU aid that required an increase in energy costs, which was viewed unfavorably by local authorities.

Moldova intends to continue supplying gas to Transnistria via Hungarian firm MET Gas and Energy Marketing AG amid severe energy shortages exacerbated by the suspension of gas supplies by Gazprom due to a debt dispute.

These developments reflect the ongoing geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe and the EU's strategic efforts to counteract Russian influence while also supporting Ukraine and addressing critical energy issues within its member states.