Finland and Sweden push for tougher EU sanctions on Russia

Monday 12 January 2026 - 18:20

Finland and Sweden's foreign ministers presented a joint proposal on Monday to intensify economic sanctions against Russia at the annual Rikskonferensen security conference in Sälen, Sweden. They urged measures to squeeze Moscow's war economy harder, regardless of any potential ceasefire in Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen of Finland and her Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard outlined bans on EU port access for ships carrying Russian oil, gas, or coal, higher customs duties on all Russian imports, new export curbs on luxury goods, and a Europe-wide prohibition on Russian fertilizer imports.

"We see the Russian threat as long-term, so we must keep up the pressure even if a ceasefire or peace deal emerges," Valtonen told journalists at the event.

The Nordic nations aim to fold these ideas into the EU's upcoming 20th sanctions package, which European diplomats expect approval around February 24, 2026 the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Banning Russian fertilizer imports alone could deal a 1.4 billion euro blow to Russia's economy, Stenergard noted, as Russia ranks as the EU's third-largest fertilizer supplier.

Stenergard detailed the proposed maritime ban: no transport, no ship-to-ship transfers, no insurance, and no repairs in EU ports. On luxury goods, she called the step more symbolic than economically devastating but morally essential, adding that it irks her to think wealthy Russians can flaunt expensive Italian designer clothes and fine French wines.

Both ministers stressed the need for the EU to cut reliance on Russian supplies. They proposed replacing Russian fertilizers with ramped-up European production and imports from nations like Canada. The EU has enacted 19 sanctions packages since the 2022 invasion and agreed in May 2025 to phase in higher duties on Russian and Belarusian fertilizers, rising from 40-45 euros per tonne to 315-430 euros by 2028.

Broader G7 and EU talks explore swapping the current Russian oil price cap for a full maritime services ban. Russia ships over a third of its oil on Western tankers, and such a move would effectively halt that trade. The three-day Rikskonferensen draws top politicians, experts, and international figures to debate security issues; Valtonen is also scheduled to meet King Carl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria.