The effectiveness of European Union sanctions against the Russian Federation (2014-2025)

The European Union has adopted sanctions as a tool of its foreign policy in response to the events of 2014, namely, the annexation of Crimea, Donbas, and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The EU introduced packages of sanctions aimed at economically, logistically, financially, and politically weakening and pressuring the Russian Federation. In light of this unprecedented wave of sanctions, the question of their effectiveness has become extremely important. In contemporary international relations, we are increasingly seeing the use of sanctions as an alternative and peaceful means of influencing countries that violate international peace. The question of their effectiveness remains important and complex, as their impact manifests differently across various spheres, and their effectiveness may be interpreted differently by each party. This paper analyzes the evolution, changes, and development of the European Union’s sanctions policy against the Russian Federation. It examines the main principles and types of sanctions, as well as the reasons for their imposition. The primary focus is on addressing the question, whether sanctions can be considered effective if they have not achieved their main objective, namely ending the war.