The EU Approved Its 20th Package of Sanctions Against Russia Without a Ban on Seaborne Oil Transport

The updated restrictions list includes 46 vessels, 117 individuals, and 60 companies, including entities from the oil, energy, and defense sectors.

The ministry said the new measures are intended to curb Russia’s ability to acquire tankers for its so-called shadow fleet and also include a ban on providing services to Russian icebreakers and LNG tankers. Certain ports, financial institutions, and crypto-asset service providers have also been placed under restrictions. Additional export controls are being introduced on goods that help strengthen Russia’s military industry, along with import restrictions on products that generate substantial revenue.

The EU is also expanding its broadcasting ban to cover entities that retransmit content from media outlets already under sanctions.

It is also emphasized that, for the first time, a mechanism to counter sanctions circumvention is being introduced. It предусматривает a ban on exports of certain goods to third countries if they re-export them to Russia.

Tighter measures against Belarus are also reported, though no specific details have been disclosed.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Russia continues to finance the war chiefly through revenues from energy exports, and that the new sanctions package is designed to “cut off those sources.”

He said work is already underway in the EU on the next round of restrictions. “Russia is earning billions from high energy prices and from its ability to sell oil. The EU must respond decisively and take every step necessary to limit Russia’s energy revenues, including by introducing a full ban on the seaborne transport of Russian oil and petroleum products. We will not accept half-measures,” he said.

On April 21, oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline was resumed, carrying Russian oil to EU countries including Hungary and Slovakia.