EU weighs new sanctions targeting Russia's shadow fleet and ports

During the G7 foreign ministers’ summit held in France on March 26–27, partners discussed banning maritime services for tankers linked to Russia's shadow fleet, Sybiha said.

He emphasized that the current situation on the energy market, caused by the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, does not eliminate the need to introduce this tool of pressure on Moscow.

"And if we are talking about strengthening sanctions, they should also extend to Russian port infrastructure, to ports that, in particular, allow shadow fleet tankers to illegally transport oil or export grain stolen from Ukraine," the minister said.

According to him, such options are already being discussed, and this approach "will inevitably be implemented sooner or later."

Sybiha also stressed that individual states can already make specific decisions at the national level. At the same time, he added, EU countries must act within European legislation, so mechanisms for additional pressure on Russia are being developed in a comprehensive manner.

"Therefore, countries are certainly acting within this legal framework, and all of this must be considered comprehensively, but yes, options are being explored that will allow the most effective use of these tools to raise the cost of continuing aggression for Russia," the Ukrainian diplomat concluded.

It should be recalled that on March 14, the Council of the EU extended sanctions against individuals and companies involved in undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty for another six months, until September 15.

The sanctions list still includes about 2,600 individuals and legal entities that the European Union considers to be involved in Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.