According to O'Sullivan, the relationship with the Kyrgyz Republic is extremely important for the European Union. In particular, an agreement on enhanced cooperation and partnership has been signed between the parties. It is expected that the volume of bilateral trade will reach 3 billion euros by 2025.
O'Sullivan noted that sanctions are one of the key tools used by EU countries and their allies to exert influence on Russia as part of their foreign policy. However, as he emphasized, issues related to circumventing sanctions raise serious concerns among EU leadership.
“The financial system is one of the key issues. In the 19th sanctions package, we included a number of banks and cryptocurrency organizations,” he added.
Additionally, he expressed concerns about the transit of high-priority goods through Kyrgyzstan that may end up on the battlefield, David O'Sullivan noted.
These issues were discussed in meetings held the day before with the leadership of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Ministry of Economy. A meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption is also expected.
Kyrgyzstan has already taken certain steps to assist, and the European Union hopes for further cooperation in this direction.
“We do not want the territory of Kyrgyzstan to be used for the transit of dual-use goods to Russia,” emphasized the EU Special Representative.
According to Bloomberg, in January 2026, the European Union plans to introduce a number of restrictive measures against Kyrgyzstan in connection with Russia's assistance in circumventing sanctions.
In the new sanctions package against Moscow, the EU is considering the possibility of applying a tool to counteract the circumvention of sanctions, which could prohibit the export of certain radio equipment and machinery to Kyrgyzstan.
First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Daniyar Amangeldiev shared his opinion on the potential new sanctions at the Munich Security Conference.
He reported that the Cabinet of Ministers regularly interacts with David O'Sullivan on sanctions policy issues.
Amangeldiev noted that the choice of Kyrgyzstan as a target for sanctions pressure from Europe raises concerns and compared it to the principle of “hit the small so that the big are afraid,” which the Kyrgyz side does not agree with.
Note:
Since the beginning of 2022, more than 20 companies from Kyrgyzstan have been subjected to sanctions by the U.S. and U.K. Treasury. Among them are major banks and oil and gas companies. Secondary sanctions apply not only to financial institutions and the oil sector but also to companies engaged in supplies:
- telecommunications and electronic equipment,
- IT infrastructure,
- aviation fuel,
- air transport, and other goods.
Brookings Institution economist Robin Brooks reported a significant increase in export supplies from Europe to Kyrgyzstan: from Estonia — by 10,000%, from Finland — by 3,100%, from Poland and Greece — by 2,200% and 2,100%, as well as more than 1,000% from Norway, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
