⚡Comment by the Russian Permanent Mission to the EU regarding the EU’s Adoption of the 21st “Package” of the So-Called Anti-Russian “Sanctions”, 23 July 2026 After much torment and arguing, EU Member States have approved yet another “package of sanctions”. As the protracted process of its adoption has demonstrated, the economic consequences of this policy are becoming increasingly painful for EU countries, prompting them to take a more critical approach to toughening illegitimate unilateral coercive measures. ☝ Nevertheless, the European bureaucracy, disregarding the economic costs, continues to pursue its course of escalating confrontation with Russia. Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has stated that this is not the end of the road on sanctions. For Brussels, discussions on new anti-Russian restrictions have become something of a symbol and a ritual, which supposedly is intended to demonstrate the “unity” of the Member States and their readiness to sacrifice their national interests for the sake of inflicting damage on our country. We note that such an unhealthy approach is causing growing opposition from sober-minded Europeans, who clearly see that the EU “sanctions” against Russia are ineffective and futile. There is no doubt that the newly announced restrictions will further aggravate the already acute social and economic problems in the European Union, which are, to a large extent, caused by the EU decision to abandon Russian energy supplies, as well as the multi-billion spending on supporting the Kiev regime, all against the backdrop of instability in global energy markets due to the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. In this context, particular attention should be paid to the assessment by the European Central Bank released today that geopolitical tensions and the energy shock are major sources of uncertainty for the European economy. ❗Perhaps, this is not the end of the road on sanctions for the European Union, but the route mapped out by Brussels is steadily leading the Union towards major roadworks, while ignoring the warning road signs that the movement of the EU economy is restricted and that it is heading towards a standstill. When the navigation system of a vehicle is outdated or malfunctioning, it should either be updated or replaced. It is high time for the EU bureaucrats to think this over. We reaffirm that the hostile unilateral coercive measures of the European Union against our country will be met with an effective and due response from Russia.