Norway Adopts New Russia Sanctions Matching EU's 21st Package

Norway announced on 20 October a new package of sanctions against Russia that corresponds to the European Union's 21st sanctions package, according to a press release from the Norwegian government cited by European Pravda.

What the sanctions cover

The measures target Russia's energy, financial and crypto sectors, and include tougher steps against the "shadow fleet" and wider restrictions on imports and exports. The package introduces broad restrictions on banks, the oil sector, cryptocurrency services, the shadow fleet and Russia's military-industrial complex.

The goal, the government said, is to put additional pressure on the Russian economy and on its ability to wage and finance the war against Ukraine.

When they take effect

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already amended the necessary regulations to implement the EU sanctions in Norway. They take effect on 21 October 2026.

Background: the EU package

On 23 July the Council of the EU finally adopted a new sanctions package against Russia, which it said delivers "a powerful blow to the Russian energy sector, financial services and cryptocurrencies". That came after the package had been blocked by individual member states for various reasons, the last of which was Greece. On 7 August the EU also approved new sanctions lists against Russia, in response to massed strikes on Ukraine.

The announcement came on a day when Oslo hosted talks on ending the war, as we wrote in our report on Witkoff's arrival. More news is in our world section.