Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has expressed “regret” over the EU’s decision to conditionally include the Kulevi oil refinery in its 21st Russia sanctions package, saying there were “no factual or legal grounds” for the move and hoping the bloc will review the decision before it takes effect in six months. The Council of the EU adopted the 21st sanctions package against Russia on July 23, introducing a conditional transaction ban on Georgia’s Kulevi oil refinery that will take effect in six months unless reassessed. The package also included sanctions on crypto-related service platforms based, among others, in Georgia. The move marked the first major inclusion of Georgian entities in EU sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In March 2026, the European Union considered including the port in its proposed 20th sanctions package against Russia, but ultimately dropped the measure, citing “positive commitments” made by the Georgian authorities and the port operator.