European Union leaders have reached a preliminary agreement on an 18th sanctions package targeting Russia, with a focus on the country’s energy exports and vessels linked to circumvention efforts, according to officials after a summit in Brussels.

The proposed measures are expected to place added pressure on liquefied natural gas imports and expand restrictions on ships used by third-country intermediaries. The package still needs formal approval before it can take effect, but the political agreement signals continued EU efforts to tighten economic pressure on Moscow.

The latest round comes as European governments try to limit revenue streams that support Russia’s war economy while reducing opportunities for sanctions evasion. Energy has remained one of the bloc’s most sensitive policy areas, given its impact on markets, supply chains, and household costs across member states.

Officials have not yet released the full legal text of the package. Once finalized, the sanctions would add to the EU’s broader campaign to constrain Russia’s access to trade, transport, and energy financing amid the war in Ukraine.