EU ambassadors have agreed to new sanctions on Russia including targeting almost 200 ships that are part of the so-called shadow fleet.
Approval of the 17th sanctions package on Wednesday came as European leaders step up pressure on Russian leader Vladimir Putin to come to the negotiating table and bring an end to the war on Ukraine he launched in February 2022.
Defense ministers are expected to give their final approval on May 20. Two EU countries will need to seek approval from their national parliaments, an EU diplomat said.
While the package was not controversial as it included only a few economic measures, several member states successfully pushed to add more shadow fleet ships than originally proposed.
The EU also will ban its companies from doing business with some 30 entities that circumvent sanctions via third countries. And 75 individuals and companies have been listed for their involvement in Russia’s war machine.
Finally, the bloc is also expanding its legal possibilities on targeting ships that destroy underwater infrastructure, propaganda outlets and financial enablers of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed adding sanction pressure if the Kremlin would keep attacking Ukraine beyond a ceasefire proposed from Monday. He suggested seizing frozen Russian assets.
“There’s plenty of ideas in storage from previous rounds,” an EU diplomat told POLITICO. “If you want to have a real impact, energy and banks would be logical but also tricky because of Hungary.”
In parallel, the EU is also working on proposals to end fossil fuel imports from Russia, under the RePowerEU Roadmap. New laws are expected under that umbrella by June.
Camille Gijs and Veronika Melkozerova contributed to this report.
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