EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, speaking at the Foreign Affairs Council on 13 July 2026, announced plans to add 250 individuals to the EU sanctions list against Russia, the largest single listing to date, while acknowledging that agreement on the 21st sanctions package remains elusive. Kallas said the listings are a response to recent Russian attacks on civilians and that work continues on the broader package, though member states are divided over the short-term costs of adding entities to the list.
Kallas outlined a full agenda for the day, starting with a discussion on civilian detainees in Ukraine, including teachers and journalists held in occupied territories, and a proposal to launch a platform to facilitate their release. The Council also discussed the Black Sea strategy, with Bulgaria and Romania cooperating on critical infrastructure protection and hybrid threats, and agreed on a new Partnership Mission for Armenia to counter hybrid threats and foreign information manipulation. On the Middle East, Kallas noted that a memorandum of understanding with Iran is not holding and that the EU is discussing with Gulf partners how to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, including offering EU expertise on nuclear negotiations. The Commission has presented an Options Paper on possible measures, including a potential ban on trade with illegal settlements, though Kallas stressed the need for unity among the 27 member states, noting differing legal opinions on whether such a measure would require unanimity or qualified majority voting. Other topics included the Western Balkans, Sudan, Syria, and Georgia, where Kallas said the EU supports the people, not the government. On the question of banning Russian soldiers from entering the EU, Kallas advocated for a blanket ban on anyone who participated in the war, but acknowledged that member states' positions vary depending on their perceived distance from the conflict.