At the urgent request of Italy and Greece, the European Union has lifted sanctions on the import of sable pelts from Russia, reversing a ban that was imposed in April 2026. According to Euractiv, this move will allow European manufacturers of fur products to officially purchase the world’s most expensive fur for creating high-end clothing valued in the hundreds of thousands of euros. The European Commission cited Russia’s monopoly in this market as the official reasoning for rolling back the restrictions, noting that European companies have struggled to find alternative sources of supply.
Brussels representatives acknowledged that procuring high-quality sable pelts from anywhere outside the Russian Federation has proven nearly impossible. Italy and Greece, whose enterprises are traditionally key international customers for Russian auction operator Sojuzpushnina, played a crucial role in easing the conditions of the 21st sanctions package. These countries had previously defended their economic interests during discussions on sanctions: Rome opposed tightening visa regulations, while Athens successfully sought exemptions for the import of Russian liquefied natural gas.