The Finnish Customs Service has published data on the impact of the EU’s anti-Russian sanctions.
The sanctions have had a significant impact on Finland’s foreign trade. Prior to the Russian invasion in December 2021, 955 Finnish companies exported goods to Russia and 480 imported goods. However, in December 2025, only 25 Finnish companies exported goods to Russia, and 11 companies imported goods.
Currently, Russia’s share in Finland’s foreign trade is approximately 0.4% of exports and 1.1% of imports, compared to a peak of 11.6% of exports (in 2008) and 18.7% of imports (in 2011).
“Unfortunately, the EU did not implement the 20th package of sanctions when the war in Ukraine had already been going on for four years… As for sanctions, it should also be noted that the goal of sanctions is to weaken Russia’s economic, technological, and military development, and this goal has not yet been achieved by the sanctions packages adopted by the EU. Therefore, I believe that the discussion about the possible lifting of sanctions is premature,” said Sami Rakshit, Director General of Customs.
