Executive Order 13660: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine
President: Barack Obama
Declared a national emergency and authorized asset freezes against actors undermining Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty or territorial integrity.
Status: In effect.
Is Executive Order 13660 still in effect? Yes. The February 18, 2026 presidential notice continued the Ukraine emergency beyond March 6, 2026, and EO 13660 remains a foundation of the sanctions program.
What does Executive Order 13660 do?
Obama declared a national emergency after actions threatening Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, democratic institutions and state assets. EO 13660 did not impose an embargo on all Russian or Ukrainian commerce. It created designation criteria for people responsible for destabilizing acts, unauthorized claims to governmental power in Ukraine, misappropriation of public assets, leadership of implicated entities and support for blocked actors. Signed order.
Once Treasury made a determination in consultation with State, the designated person's property within U.S. jurisdiction or U.S.-person possession or control was blocked. Blocking freezes dealings rather than transferring title to the government. Contributions of money, goods or services to or for a blocked person, receipt of such contributions and evasion or conspiracies to evade the prohibitions were also covered. U.S. banks, businesses and individuals therefore needed to screen counterparties and property interests, including dealings outside the United States when U.S. persons were involved. Signed order.
Before and after
Before the order
The escalating 2014 crisis lacked this particular Ukraine emergency designation framework. EO 13660 supplied an initial targeted authority and an entry suspension for qualifying foreign nationals. Its coverage depended on criteria and determinations; being Russian or Ukrainian alone was not sufficient to make someone's property blocked. Signed order.
After the order
EO 13661, signed March 16, 2014, and EO 13662, signed March 20, 2014, expanded the emergency and added sanctions authorities. Later measures addressed Crimea, particular sectors and the regions described in EO 14065. These additions built on a continuing emergency rather than changing EO 13660 into a universal trade ban. The February 18, 2026 continuation notice expressly identified the original order and continued the emergency for another year beyond March 6, 2026. Signed order. Sources: EO 13661: additional Ukraine measures; EO 13662: expanded Ukraine measures; 2026 emergency continuation; OFAC current Ukraine-/Russia-related sanctions authorities.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Treasury Secretary / OFAC | Determine qualifying persons with State consultation; block property, implement regulations and licenses, and exercise delegated IEEPA powers. | As determinations and program administration require; no one-time deadline. |
| State Secretary | Consult on designations and implementation and administer applicable entry restrictions within State authority. | With sanctions determinations and ongoing entry processing. |
| Treasury Secretary | Submit recurring and final emergency reports to Congress in consultation with State. | According to National Emergencies Act and IEEPA reporting requirements. |
| All federal agencies | Take appropriate measures within their authority to implement the order. | Ongoing while emergency and applicable measures remain in force. |
What happened next
Obama declared the Ukraine emergency and established EO 13660 sanctions authority. Official source
EO 13661 expanded the emergency and sanctions framework. Official source
EO 13662 further expanded the framework. Official source
Trump continued the Ukraine emergency for one year beyond March 6, 2026. Official source
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
The principal financial authority is the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, exercised after a National Emergencies Act declaration. The entry restriction separately relies on Immigration and Nationality Act section 212(f), 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), while 3 U.S.C. 301 supports delegation. Statutes and Treasury licenses or regulations can authorize transactions that would otherwise be prohibited. The text therefore should not be read as banning every humanitarian or licensed activity without examining the applicable exception. It removes advance notice for blocking determinations because assets can be moved rapidly, but a designation remains an administrative action rather than a criminal conviction. Treasury must report to Congress under the emergency statutes, and all federal agencies implement the order only within their authority. OFAC's Ukraine-/Russia-related regulations in 31 CFR part 589 provide the operative administrative detail; continued emergency renewal is important because IEEPA measures rest on that emergency foundation. Signed order. Sources: EO 13661: additional Ukraine measures; EO 13662: expanded Ukraine measures; 2026 emergency continuation; OFAC current Ukraine-/Russia-related sanctions authorities.
Sources by type
If a source is unavailable, first check the cited publisher or another official repository. The cited publisher remains the authority.
Primary and official sources
Orders, laws, court records and official implementation material.
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 15, 2026. How we research →