---
title: "EU fails to agree on 21st sanctions package against Russia: Kaja Kallas's position and details of the failure"
description: "The EU failed to agree on the 21st sanctions package against Russia due to disagreements over the fishing industry. Kaja Kallas confirmed that the 250 items of the package were not approved, but work on the entry ban for military personnel and personal sanctions continues. 🇪🇺🚫🇷🇺"
date: 2026-07-13T17:32:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/eu-fails-to-agree-on-21st-sanctions-package-against-russia
tags: [kaja-kallas, eu-sanctions, russia, european-union]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# EU fails to agree on 21st sanctions package against Russia: Kaja Kallas's position and details of the failure

![Kaja Kallas at the European Parliament meeting discussing the 21st sanctions package against Russia](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/13/es-ne-smog-soglasovat-21-i-paket-sanktsii-protiv-rossii/es-ne-smog-soglasovat-21-i-paket-sanktsii-protiv-rossii-1.webp)

The European Union has encountered a serious obstacle in implementing its anti-Russian policy. Foreign ministers of EU member states failed to reach a consensus on the 21st package of sanctions against Russia. This was officially stated by Kaja Kallas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

According to the diplomat, despite the parties getting quite close to the final stage of negotiations, a unified opinion could not be reached. The package under discussion contained 250 items aimed at increasing pressure on the Russian economy and political system.

### Point of disagreement: the fishing industry

One of the key points that sparked controversy was the issue of Russian fish supplies. Kallas noted that various member states are proposing to exclude certain items from the sanctions list. As a result, some provisions concerning the fishing industry will be excluded from the final document.

This decision demonstrates that even in conditions of hard confrontation with Moscow, the interests of individual EU member states may conflict with the general line of Brussels.

### Entry ban for military personnel and personal sanctions

Despite the difficulties with the overall package, work on specific areas continues. Kaja Kallas emphasized the importance of the issue concerning former Russian military personnel. The EU believes that such individuals pose a threat to European security and intends to ban them from entering the territory of member states.

Simultaneously, a list of personal sanctions is being prepared. It will include about 80 Russian companies and individuals. Previously, the names of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill and the founder of Lukoil Vagit Alekperov were removed from the draft of the 21st package. Notably, after this change, Bulgaria expressed full support for these economic restrictions.

The new restrictions planned to be introduced as part of the package should cover key sectors of the Russian economy: the energy sector, financial services, trade, the crypto industry, and the fishing industry.