No full ban on maritime services for Russian tankers in EU's 20th Russia sanctions package – diplomatic sources

The EU's new package of sanctions against Russia will not include a full ban on providing maritime services to Russian vessels transporting crude oil and petroleum products, which had been planned as one of the package's most impactful elements.

Source: European Pravda's correspondent, citing several EU diplomats familiar with the final content of the 20th sanctions package, which is currently going through the approval process

Details: The sanctions package documentation, which is currently undergoing approval through a written procedure, contains a statement that the initiative has generally been agreed and is supported by EU member states, but it will not be implemented in practice until all the G7 countries agree to a ban on maritime services for Russian tankers.

However, the 20th package is expected to include a ban on maritime and financial services for tankers and icebreakers involved in transporting liquefied natural gas from Russia.

Russian shipping companies are also expected to be barred from using LNG terminals in Europe.

In addition, according to European Pravda's sources, Russians will be prohibited from purchasing tankers in the EU, and European companies will not be allowed to resell tankers to Russian buyers.

Background:

• The EU has launched the written procedure to approve both a €90 billion loan for Ukraine in 2026-2027 and the 20th Russia sanctions package, a process which is expected to continue until 23 April.
• Hungary's Minister for EU Affairs János Bóka confirmed that supplies of Russian oil to Hungary, which had been a precondition for lifting Hungary's veto on the loan and sanctions, resumed on 22 April.
• Slovakia also expects supplies of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline repaired by Ukraine to resume on the morning of 23 April.
• Earlier, the European Commission said the EU could introduce a full ban on maritime services for all vessels transporting Russian oil even if the measure is not supported by G7 countries.

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