EU's 20th sanctions package against Russia excludes full ban on maritime services for Russian tankers – diplomatic sources

Tetyana Vysotska, Alona Mazurenko - 22 April, 16:51

A tanker. Photo: marinetraffic.com

The new, 20th sanctions package 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 powerful elements.

Source: European Pravda's correspondent, citing several EU diplomats familiar with the final content of the 20th sanctions package currently being approved through a written procedure

Details: A full ban within the European Union on providing maritime services to Russian vessels transporting oil and petroleum products has not been included in the 20th sanctions package against Russia as initially planned, European Pravda's sources said.

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

Instead, the 20th package is expected to include a ban on certain 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 a written procedure to approve both a €90 billion loan for Ukraine in 2026-2027 and the 20th sanctions package against Russia, which is expected to continue until 23 April.
Hungary's Minister for EU Affairs János Bóka said that supplies of Russian oil to Hungary resumed on 22 April, which had been a precondition for lifting Hungary's veto on the loan and sanctions.
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 such a step is not supported by G7 countries.

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