The European Commission, which presented a fresh package of sanctions last week, proposed that 150 Russian ships from the alleged shadow fleet be subject to restrictions. The Kremlin uses tankers that are utilized to illegally export Russian oil and petroleum products to circumvent Western sanctions.
Currently, more than 600 vessels under the flag of 3rd countries are active in Russian oil transport. The Polish Presidency proposed to extend the list of vessels sanctioned to 200, which was accepted by the associate States on Monday.
Under the 17th package of sanctions, it is besides planned to include enhanced export control for further companies suspected of supplying Russia with technologies capable of serving war purposes. The list is to include 31 entities from Russia, Turkey, Serbia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and the United arabian Emirates.
Putin under pressure
According to Finance Minister Andrzej Domański, in Europe the story of the strength of the Russian economy is increasingly falling apart. It notes that the EU associate States are increasingly convinced that sanctions are effective, which in turn increases their willingness to take further action, including the usage of frozen Russian assets.
We know that inflation is much higher there, we know that oil gross is simply a dwindling share of their budget, which means that more should be collected from taxes, from companies, from citizens, so we know that the Russian economy is under pressure. That's why you gotta keep putting force on it. said Domański on Tuesday in Brussels.
On Wednesday, the associate States' ambassadors to the EU are to pre-sanction fresh sanctions. The final decision will be made on Tuesday, May 20, at a gathering of abroad ministers in Brussels. This will be the second package of sanctions, which is managed by the Polish Presidency. The erstwhile package was adopted at the end of February.
Non-EU sanctions
During the same period, the United Kingdom besides announced extended sanctions against illegal tankers utilized by Russia. On May 9, the country presented the largest regulation package against the shadow fleet so far. The fresh measures include, inter alia, a ban on these vessels entering British ports and the anticipation of retaining them in UK territorial waters. According to the British government, since the beginning of 2024 these ships have carried Russian oil worth over $24 billion. The UK claims that it has imposed sanctions on more units of this fleet than any another state, and that the actions are besides aimed at protecting critical infrastructure and the environment.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that Russia is simply a real threat to national safety and the economy of the United Kingdom, and that the government will take all steps to cut Putin's war device off from oil export income and defend the offshore energy infrastructure.
