The EU Council has adopted the 21st sanctions package against Russia after agreeing to a derogation addressing Greece’s objections to the proposed restrictions.
Greece opposed the ban on EU operators transferring Russian liquefied natural gas to third countries. Under the final rules, such transfers may continue temporarily under qualifying long-term contracts concluded before 24 February 2022, while the total volume transferred under the exemption may not exceed 2025 levels.
The new sanctions include 218 additional listings—48 individuals and 170 entities—targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex, financial sector, energy revenues and sanctions-evasion networks. The package also adds 41 vessels to the EU’s shadow-fleet sanctions list and expands the designation criteria to cover ships providing bunkering, tug services and ship-to-ship transfers to sanctioned vessels. The package also suspends the automatic adjustment of the Russian oil-price cap until 15 July 2027, preventing it from rising in response to recent market disruptions.
Meanwhile, the EU External Action Service has stated that the attacks by the Houthis against the Saudi oil-tankers are unacceptable and illegal under international law and reiterated that the EU’s naval mission will protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Full statement can be read here.
You can find the new sanctions document here.
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