EU weighing new sanctions on Russia
More than 200 new targets, including 150 vessels, are reportedly in the EU’s crosshairs
Dozens of individuals and entities and 150 Russia-trading vessels are being floated as targets for what would be the EU’s 17th sanctions package against Moscow
THE EU is weighing fresh sanctions on Russia that could bring the number of ships designated by the bloc to over 300.
A draft of the proposal seen by Lloyd’s List suggests the European Council is looking to impose sanctions on 15 people and 45 entities, including Lukoil subsidiary Litasco Middle East DMCC; two United Arab Emirates-based shipmanagement firms, which the EU said manage dark fleet* tankers moving Russian oil; and Russian shipowner Volga Shipping, which was previously sanctioned by the UK in May 2023.
The council is also proposing to sanction 150 vessels, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Should the proposal be approved, it will be the EU’s 17th package against Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and will bring the number of vessels sanctioned by the EU to more than 300.
The proposed sanctions will require agreement from all member states and could change before they are approved.
The EU’s foreign ministers are aiming to adopt the proposed sanctions in time for a May 20 meeting in Brussels, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
* Lloyd’s List defines a tanker as part of the dark fleet if it is aged 15 years or over, anonymously owned and/or has a corporate structure designed to obfuscate beneficial ownership discovery, solely deployed in sanctioned oil trades, and engaged in one or more of the deceptive shipping practices outlined in US State Department guidance issued in May 2020. The figures exclude tankers tracked to government-controlled shipping entities such as Russia’s Sovcomflot, or Iran’s National Iranian Tanker Co, and those already sanctioned.
