Kyiv’s proposal targets a material tied to Russia’s weapons industry, but the call puts one EU country’s major industrial plant under scrutiny.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on European Union countries to increase sanctions pressure on Russia and impose a complete embargo on supplies of alumina and aluminium ores to the Russian Federation.
As reported by eurointegration.com.ua.
He made the statement during an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of EU member states in the “Gymnich” format, held in Ireland.
Andrii Sybiha identified countering Russian escalation and supporting peace initiatives as the top priorities. The minister also stressed the need to increase pressure on the aggressor state so that it cannot adapt to the sanctions already in place.
Ukraine proposed a number of additional restrictions to the European Union. These include targeted sanctions against Russian companies producing ballistic weapons, restrictions on certain legal entities and individuals, and measures against the “Rassvet” satellite system.
In addition, Andrii Sybiha called for stronger efforts to combat Russia’s “shadow fleet,” sanctions against the state corporations “Rosatom” and “Roscosmos,” and tighter restrictions on Russian citizens’ travel to Europe. In Ukraine’s view, this would help counter Russia’s subversive activities in European countries.
We call on the EU to impose a complete embargo on supplies of alumina and aluminium ores to Russia. This raw material is crucial to Russia’s military-industrial complex, particularly its aerospace sector and the production of missiles and armoured vehicles. Denying Russia access to alumina will directly reduce its ability to manufacture weapons.
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
Why the embargo is a sensitive issue for Ireland
The issue of banning alumina exports to Russia is particularly sensitive for Ireland, which holds the presidency of the Council of the EU during this six-month term.
The Aughinish plant operates in County Limerick. It is Europe’s largest alumina processing facility and one of five such plants in the European Union. The facility is owned by the Russian aluminium group “Rusal.”
After an investigation by an Irish newspaper reported that the plant’s products were being sold to a trading company supplying goods to a major military-industrial hub in Russia, Aughinish found itself at the centre of international attention.
According to the investigation, the plant shipped 422,474 tonnes of alumina to Russia in the first half of 2026 – a raw material used to produce aluminium. The value of the shipments was estimated at €119.5 million.
In July, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said he would like to halt exports to Russia of aluminium oxide, which can be used in Russia’s defence industry. Earlier, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Dublin, he also announced that Ireland’s investigation into alumina exports to Russia had been completed.
The situation surrounding supplies of this raw material has already drawn the attention of the European Commission. Introducing an EU-wide embargo could become one of the key measures to restrict the Russian military-industrial complex’s access to critically important materials.