The research aims to consider the impact of anti-Russian sanctions on EU countries. The authors analyze the impact of anti-Russian sanctions on the EU in today’s conditions and conclude that it has a negative effect on several basic indicators for assessing the economy of the European Union. The research results allow the authors to conclude that in the absence of positive changes in the development of the military-political situation with the constructive participation of European countries, the socioeconomic crisis in Europe is to escalate with its development into a large-scale political crisis. It became a revelation for Western politicians that the anti-Russian sanctions imposed hit them hard and caused many questions from the people of Europe. The economic situation is getting worse every day. This is clearly evidenced by the reaction of the population, which is trying to protest because of rising prices for energy and food. However, the Americans will continue to insist on increasing pressure on Russia. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.