The EU is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia, targeting its shadow fleet
The European Union is working on a 21st package of sanctions against Russia, which could be adopted in late June or early July. According to Politico, the key restrictions are intended to target Russia’s shadow fleet and schemes designed to circumvent existing sanctions.
According to media sources, imposing additional sanctions against the shadow fleet will help cut off one of the Kremlin’s most important sources of revenue and increase pressure on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to abandon his maximalist demands in a peace agreement to end the war.
The new sanctions package, which is expected to be introduced in late June or early July, will likely also target Russian banks, financial institutions, and military-industrial companies, as well as firms selling stolen Ukrainian grain, seven EU officials said.
The EU also wants to extend sanctions against high-ranking members of the Russian Orthodox Church, including its leader and close ally of Putin, Patriarch Kirill. Previously, these restrictions were blocked by the government of Hungary’s former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Politico reports.
The European Commission may also revive the idea of a ban on maritime transport for Russian vessels, which has so far been blocked by Malta and Greece, one diplomat said. “Russia’s economy is in its worst domestic state since the start of the war. Now is truly the time to push for more, because things aren’t going very well in Russia,” said one senior EU official.
At the same time, Ukraine, he said, is in a better position following the approval of a €90 billion loan and strikes against Russia using long-range UAVs.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen intend to double this “momentum” and “want to introduce a major package” of sanctions, said a second senior EU official who was directly involved in preparing the restrictions.
Prior to this, Zelenskyy thanked Britain for sanctions against drone manufacturers and recruiters.
Earlier, it was reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had signed a new package of sanctions. Among other things, the restrictions apply to entities from Belarus.
Ukraine will increase pressure on Russia and its partners over the illegal export of grain from temporarily occupied territories and is preparing new sanctions.
