On 28 November, the Council of the European Union decided to include the violation of restrictive measures in the list of crimes under the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. This decision aimed to ensure uniform enforcement of sanctions across all member states and deter attempts to circumvent or violate the measures imposed on Russia in response to its war of aggression against Ukraine. Following this decision, the European Commission would propose a directive establishing minimum standards for defining criminal offences related to violating sanctions and specifying penalties for such violations.

Foreign ministers of Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden travelled to Kyiv to discuss further support for Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian aggression. It was the largest delegation since the beginning of the war. The discussions focused on increasing military and humanitarian aid, including the provision of energy equipment, which was critical for Ukraine as it faced Russia’s continued attacks on its infrastructure. The ministers reaffirmed their full solidarity with Ukraine, emphasizing their determination to stand firm against Russian aggression.

During the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Bucharest on 29 November, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that NATO would continue to stand for Ukraine as long as it took. He warned that allowing Russia to prevail would only embolden Vladimir Putin to pursue further acts of aggression. Stoltenberg emphasized that NATO would not permit Putin to dictate the choices of sovereign nations, including decisions about their future membership in the Organization. He reaffirmed that Ukraine’s future lay in NATO, after winning the war. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of continued military support to ensure Russia fails to achieve its objectives on the battlefield. He made it clear that NATO’s support posed no threat to Russia, pointing out that the real challenge for Putin lay in democracy and freedom - values that stand in stark contrast to the Kremlin’s authoritarian regime.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, proposed the establishment of a special UN-backed tribunal to investigate war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. As Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, Ursula von der Leyen put forward two options: the establishment of an international tribunal based on a multilateral treaty or the establishment of a special tribunal composed of judges from different countries. Moreover, she estimated Ukraine’s war losses at around €600 billion and proposed a financial plan in which frozen Russian assets, such as €300 billion of the Russian central bank’s reserves and €20 billion belonging to oligarchs, could be used as war reparations.

Von der Leyen initially mentioned that 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 20,000 civilians had died during the war. These figures sparked controversy, as some were considered classified by the Ukrainian military. In response, the European Commission edited the recording of the speech to omit this information and revised the published text accordingly.

To curb Russia’s oil revenues, which are used to fund its war against Ukraine, the EU, along with Australia, Japan, Canada, the US, and the UK, agreed on a global price cap for Russian oil. The cap, set at $60 per barrel, came into effect on 5 December 2022, coinciding with the EU’s embargo on Russian oil imports. The measure aimed to reduce Russia’s revenue from oil trade would be regularly reviewed to reflect market dynamics. The European Commission emphasized that the price cap would not only limit Russia’s profits but also benefit developing countries by mitigating price increases in global markets.

In recent months, the number of Russian airstrikes had dropped significantly, from the initial 300 per day to several dozen, and Russia had lost more than 60 aircraft. Russian forces continued to conduct brutal attacks around Bakhmut and Avdiivka.

There had also been reports of acts of genocide. In the Luhansk region, Russian forces allegedly carried out public executions of civilians accused of participating in partisan activities.

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