EU foreign and defence ministers on 13 July 2026 adopted sanctions targeting Russia's prison system, the bloc's largest-ever cyber sanctions package, a new civilian mission in Armenia, and €120 million under the European Peace Facility for Moldova. The main divergence emerged over the 21st Russia sanctions package, with High Representative Kaja Kallas acknowledging regret that no agreement had been reached. Unnamed journalists and David Carretta of Radio Radical pointed to removed or softened items, including fish and visa measures for former combatants, questioning whether the EU was ready for economic confrontation. Kallas defended the method, arguing packages should start strong. On trade restrictions on illegal Israeli settlements, all 27 member states agreed settlements are illegal, but legal uncertainty persisted over whether the decision requires unanimity or qualified majority voting. Kallas invoked a European Council legal opinion treating trade as QMV. Kallas also condemned the International Olympic Committee's decision to invite Russian athletes back, linking it to civilian deaths. Next steps: ambassadors meet on Wednesday to continue work on the Russia sanctions package and settlement trade restrictions. Affected stakeholders include Ukrainian detainees and NGOs, Russian entities under sanctions, Israeli settlement producers, and EU member states balancing national economic interests.
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