Ukrainian foreign minister calls for full EU embargo on alumina and aluminium ore supplies to Russia

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called on his counterparts from EU countries to increase pressure on Russia, including by imposing a full embargo on supplies of alumina and aluminium ore to Russia.

Source: Andrii Sybiha during an informal meeting of foreign ministers of EU member states in the Gymnich format in Ireland, as reported by European Pravda citing the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry press service

Details: Sybiha identified countering Russian escalation and advancing peace efforts as the first priority.

The minister named increasing pressure on Russia as the second key area.

"Andrii Sybiha called on the European Union and EU member states to exert maximum and relentless pressure on the Russian war machine, denying Moscow the opportunity to adapt to sanctions," the press service said.

Ukraine proposed specific measures, including targeted sanctions against Russia's ballistic missile production, restrictions against a number of Russian legal entities and individuals, as well as measures against the Rassvet satellite system.

In addition, the foreign minister called for a full embargo on supplies of alumina to Russia, stronger measures against Russia's shadow fleet, sanctions against Rosatom and Roscosmos, as well as strict restrictions on Russian citizens travelling to Europe to counter Russian acts of sabotage in Europe.

"We call on the EU to impose a full embargo on supplies of alumina and aluminium ore to Russia. These raw materials are crucial for Russia's military-industrial complex, particularly its aerospace industry, missile production and armoured vehicle manufacturing. Cutting Russia off from alumina will directly reduce its ability to produce weapons," the Foreign Ministry explained Sybiha's position in response to a request from European Pravda.

It should be noted that the issue of banning alumina exports to Russia is sensitive for Ireland, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council in the second half of this year.

The Irish Aughinish plant, Europe's largest alumina processing facility and one of five such plants in the EU, became the centre of an international scandal after an investigation published by The Irish Times this year indicated that the plant's products were being sold to a trading company that supplies a major military-industrial hub in Russia.

Aughinish is located in County Limerick and is owned by Russian aluminium group Rusal.

According to The Irish Times, the plant sent 422,474 tonnes of alumina – a raw material used to produce aluminium – to Russia, worth €119.5 million in the first half of 2026.

Background:

• Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin said in an interview with European Pravda in July that he would like to stop exports to Russia of aluminium oxide, which can be used in Russia's military-industrial complex.
• On 1 July, during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Dublin, Martin said that his country was already completing an investigation into reports of alumina exports to Russia.
• The issue also attracted the attention of the European Commission.
• However, amid the dispute, Ireland stresses the EU's need for alumina.

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