• EU approves an 18th sanctions package aimed at Russia's oil and energy sectors.
• The new measures include a price cap on Russian oil set at approximately $47.60 per barrel.
• Restrictive measures extend to blacklisting over 100 vessels linked to Russia's shadow fleet.
• All transactions related to the Nord Stream pipelines are banned to cut off future revenues.
• EU aims to bolster pressure on Russia amid continued military aggression in Ukraine.

The European Union has announced its 18th sanctions package against Russia in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which includes significant measures targeting the oil and energy sectors. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated, "The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions packages against Russia to date," highlighting a commitment to increase pressure until Russia ceases its military actions, according to aa and trtglobal.

Central to the new sanctions is a lowered price cap on Russian oil, now set at **roughly $47.60 per barrel**, drastically reducing from the previous cap of $60. This measure aims to diminish Moscow's energy revenue without causing substantial disruption to global oil supplies. The cap will be adjusted dynamically based on market conditions, as reported by Reuters, Al Jazeera, and India Times.

Additionally, the sanctions package also targets over **100 additional vessels** in what is recognized as Russia's "shadow fleet," which are used to circumvent existing sanctions. This move brings the total number of sanctioned ships to over 400, impacting operations critical to Russia's oil export mechanisms, according to Le Monde and Channel News Asia.

The sanctions specifically ban any transactions linked to the **Nord Stream gas pipelines**, which Ukraine has been advocating to be fully shut down to prevent any financial benefits to Russia from these infrastructures. Kallas emphasized that these actions are necessary to combat the ongoing aggression from Moscow, citing a commitment to Ukraine's support, referenced in statements from Reuters and Africa News.

Alongside energy sanctions, the EU imposed further restrictions on Russia’s banking transactions and designated **two Chinese banks** among those facilitating sanctions evasion. Ukrainian officials have deemed the new sanctions as "essential and timely," urging stronger international cooperation against Russian aggression, as noted by India Times and Le Monde.