EU's 20th sanctions package against Russia stalled over proposed ban on shadow fleet

The publication of the European Commission's 20th EU sanctions package against Russia, which was planned for this week, has been delayed due to discussions over a proposal to impose a full ban on the provision of maritime services in EU ports to all vessels transporting Russian oil.

According to the report, the European Commission's proposed full ban on Russian oil shipments in the EU has become the subject of discussions that are delaying the finalisation of the EU's 20th sanctions package against Russia.

Several EU diplomats in Brussels told European Pravda that the proposal to include a complete ban on providing maritime services in the EU to tankers carrying Russian oil in the 20th EU sanctions package has slowed the preparation process due to the need to coordinate this initiative at the G7 level.

"Involving the G7 countries – and above all the United States and the United Kingdom – in banning Russian oil shipments would make this measure more painful for Russia and its economy, and would also address concerns raised by a number of EU maritime states whose budgets depend heavily on port revenues," the diplomats said to European Pravda.

Discussions with G7 countries on maritime sanctions have been ongoing throughout the week and are the reason for the delay in announcing the EU's 20th sanctions package against Russia, which had been expected as early as Wednesday 4 February.