INSIGHTi

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: European Union
Responses and Implications for
U.S.-EU Relations
Updated April 12, 2022
The 27-member European Union (EU) has responded with unprecedented unity and speed to Russia’s
February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. EU policy responses and coordination with the United States are of
interest to Congress given the EU’s role as an important U.S. partner.
Key EU Responses
Sanctions
The EU has imposed several rounds of sanctions—or restrictive measures—intended to cripple Russia’s
ability to finance the war against Ukraine, enact costs on Russia’s elites, and diminish Russia’s economic
base. Imposing sanctions requires unanimity among EU members. As of April 8, 2022, EU sanctions
included
 Freezing the assets of 80 entities and imposing asset freezes and travel bans on 1,091
Russian officials, legislators, and other elites (Russian President Vladimir Putin and
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are subject only to asset freezes)
 Expanding existing sanctions on Russia’s financial sector, restricting transactions with
Russia’s Central Bank and blocking access to its reserve holdings, and freezing the assets
of and disconnecting seven Russian banks from SWIFT (the world’s dominant
international financial messaging system, headquartered in Belgium)
 Prohibiting imports of coal (to take full effect in August 2022), steel and other raw
materials, spirits, and seafood from Russia
 Banning certain exports in the oil refining, aviation, maritime, and technology sectors
(e.g., semiconductors) and the export of luxury goods to Russia
 Broadening the scope of export controls on dual-use goods and technologies
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 Closing EU airspace, seaports, and roads to Russian aircraft, ships, and freight operators,
respectively (with some exceptions, including for energy-related cargo)
 Expanding sanctions on Belarus for supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
The EU’s increasingly punitive sanctions are notable given the bloc’s trade and investment ties to Russia
and reliance on Russian energy imports. Some within and outside the EU are critical that the bloc has not
disconnected Sberbank (Russia’s largest bank) or Gazprombank (linked to Russia’s energy sector) from
SWIFT or banned oil and gas imports from Russia. (See CRS Insight IN11869, Russia’s Invasion of
Ukraine: Overview of U.S. and International Sanctions and Other Responses; and CRS In Focus
IF12062, New Financial and Trade Sanctions Against Russia.)
Military Assistance
The EU has announced a total of €1 billion (about $1.1 billion) to date in financing for military assistance
to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility (EPF). For the first time, this financing includes funding
for lethal equipment, worth €900 million ($987 million); the remaining €100 million ($110 million) is for
nonlethal supplies. Member states are responsible for delivering equipment and may be reimbursed from
the EPF for assistance provided since the start of 2022.
Helping Refugees and Providing Aid
Over 4.5 million people have fled Ukraine, with about 60% of refugees arriving in Poland. The EU has
adopted a temporary protection mechanism to provide Ukrainian nationals and other legal residents of
Ukraine with immediate residency rights and access to benefits throughout the EU. EU assistance to date
includes €550 million (around $598 million) in humanitarian aid for Ukraine and neighboring countries
and the provision of in-kind emergency supplies. On April 9, 2022, the EU pledged €1 billion more in
assistance for refugees and the internally displaced. (See CRS Insight IN11882, Humanitarian and
Refugee Crisis in Ukraine.)
Tackling Disinformation
The EU has condemned Russia’s disinformation campaign against Ukraine and suspended broadcasting
of Russian state-owned media outlets Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik across all platform types (cable,
satellite, websites, apps). Through its EUvsDisinfo project, the EU also is addressing disinformation
targeting Ukraine.
U.S.-EU Cooperation
Russia’s war against Ukraine has strengthened U.S.-EU ties and transatlantic unity. The United States and
the EU have moved largely in lockstep in terms of the types and timing of sanctions imposed. Many EU
sanctions are identical or substantively similar to U.S. sanctions, including restrictions on Russia’s
Central Bank. With other partners, the EU and the United States established a transatlantic task force to
ensure effective implementation of sanctions against designated individuals and companies and
announced plans to suspend Russia’s preferential trade treatment under World Trade Organization rules.
One U.S.-EU divergence centers on sanctioning Russian oil and gas imports. The United States has
banned imports of Russian crude oil and certain petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and
coal. The EU, however, is far more dependent on Russian energy than the United States. Although some
EU countries reportedly support going beyond banning Russian coal imports to prohibiting oil and gas
imports, others remain reluctant. The EU has pledged to decrease its energy dependence on Russia,
starting with reducing demand for Russian gas by two-thirds by the end of 2022.

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While in Brussels on March 24-25, 2022, President Biden committed to help the EU reduce its
dependency on Russian gas by working with “international partners” to boost LNG shipments to the EU
this year and outlined plans to enable additional annual U.S. LNG shipments through 2030. A new U.S.-
EU task force on energy security is to implement these and other goals. Biden also announced plans for
the United States to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and noted close U.S.-EU coordination on
humanitarian assistance efforts.
U.S. and Congressional Interests
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has galvanized debate on several EU initiatives that could be central to how
the EU as an institution and U.S.-EU relations evolve. Among the most prominent of interest to Congress
are
 Security and Defense. Russia’s actions could prompt greater EU efforts to improve
military capabilities and become a more independent global actor (often referred to as
strategic autonomy). Such ambitions could create some U.S.-EU tensions, but Russia’s
aggression also has reinforced NATO’s importance and could strengthen the NATO-EU
partnership (as suggested in the EU’s new Strategic Compass document).
 Energy and Climate Policies. Russia’s war in Ukraine could accelerate EU energy
diversification efforts (long called for by some in Congress), bolster the European Green
Deal to address climate change, and encourage U.S.-EU cooperation on clean energy
technologies and renewables.
 EU Enlargement. Traditionally, strong bipartisan support has existed in Congress for EU
enlargement. Russia’s invasion may be boosting Ukraine’s EU membership prospects,
with the EU agreeing to assess Ukraine’s recent membership application. Joining the EU,
however, typically takes many years, and some EU members remain wary about
Ukraine’s readiness and about further antagonizing Russia.

Author Information

Kristin Archick

Specialist in European Affairs




Disclaimer
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IN11897 · VERSION 3 · UPDATED

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