Antonina Levashenko, Head of the Gaidar Institute’s International Best Practices Analysis Department, commented for NEWS.ru on the contents of the European Union’s 20th sanctions package, highlighting its contradictory nature and potential economic consequences.
In a conversation with a journalist, the expert noted that, despite the European market’s dependence on Russian supplies, the EU continues to impose restrictions on fertilizers and raw materials for their production. In particular, the new package provides for annual import quotas on ammonia and maintains tariffs on fertilizers. According to Antonina Levashenko, this is particularly telling given that Russia accounted for about 22% of fertilizer imports into the EU in 2025.
raw material costs lead to increased expenses for farmers and, consequently, to higher prices for agricultural products. As early as spring 2026, Germany saw a rise in prices for nitrogen fertilizers: in Lower Saxony, calcium ammonium nitrate became approximately 15% more expensive,” – noted Antonina Levashenko.
In addition, the expert pointed out that restrictions in the metallurgical sector remain partial. In particular, sanctions have not affected Russian nickel—one of the key export commodities—while restrictions apply only to nickel scrap, not to pure metal.