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This thesis examines the European Union’s (EU) adoption of economic sanctions against Russia between February 22, 2022 and October 23, 2025. The sanctions mark a historical shift in EU sanctions policy, being comprehensive rather than targeted in scope. The thesis analyses the reasons behind the comprehensive sanctions, combining Role Theory and Policy Diffusion, creating the framework of Role Driven Policy Diffusion, allowing a new perspective on the issue. The thesis explores how this theoretical framework can explain the reasons behind the EU's adoption of sanctions.

The findings show that the EU changed its role conception from primarily a defender of international law, to a regional and global geostrategic player. The US influenced the EU through the cooperation and coordination of sanctions. As the EU's role conception evolved, it more closely resembled the US’ role conception, thus motivating the EU to emulate US sanctions policy. 

The thesis provides an alternative perspective on the reasons behind the change in EU sanctions against Russia, stressing the importance of the EU's role conception, but also US influence. The thesis also contributes to Role Theory and Policy Diffusion literature, by analysing EU role conception and transatlantic Policy Diffusion.