The European Union has adopted 21 packages of sanctions against Russia, three of which address the circumvention of sanctions.

Omissions

• The headline figure of 21 sanctions packages is confirmed, but the sub-claim that exactly '3 deal with the circumvention of sanctions' could not be precisely verified: sources show anti-circumvention measures appear in multiple packages (11th, 14th, 18th and 20th), so the count of three is an imprecise characterisation.
• The 21st package was adopted on 23 July 2026, i.e. roughly two months before the session date, so the MEP's count was up to date at the time of speaking.

Sources

• PrimaryCouncil of the European Union — press release, 21st package of sanctionsToday, the Council adopted the 21st package of economic and individual restrictive measures designed to target the sectors with the greatest impact on Russia's economy and its ability to fuel its war of aggression against Ukraine. It includes the largest batch of individual listings of the last four years.
• PrimaryEU Sanctions Helpdesk (European Commission) — 21st package of sanctions against RussiaOn 23 July 2026, the EU Council adopted the 21st package of restrictive measures against Russia in response to its war of aggression against Ukraine.
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — EU adopts 20th package of sanctions against RussiaThe new sanctions have a strong anti-circumvention angle and include robust energy measures, as well as the activation for the first time of the 'anti-circumvention' tool. Today's package also targets financial services (including crypto), trade and media propaganda.
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Making sanctions effective (anti-circumvention instrument)As part of the 11th sanctions package adopted in June 2023, the EU introduced a new instrument to avoid their circumvention through the jurisdictions of third countries. The instrument would focus on specific high-risk goods that are proven to reach Russia via third countries, despite being covered by EU sanctions.