EU sanctions Russia's 'ghost fleet' amid Trump thaw

BarcelonaWhile Donald Trump is the protagonist of the thaw with Vladimir Putin's Russia, with whom he started to negotiate Ukraine without the Ukrainians, Europe is struggling to make its own mark. EU countries have agreed on a new package of sanctions against Moscow that will be formally approved on Monday, coinciding with the third anniversary of the invasion.

The new sanctions include more measures against The so-called Russian "ghost fleet" and the ships that help Moscow to avoid sanctions on its oil, as well as the ban on importing aluminium from Russia and exporting oil and gas refining services, explain EU sources. This is the sixteenth wave of sanctions against Russia since the start of the invasion of Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement in a message on social media. "We are committed to maintaining pressure on the Kremlin," she said. "We are closing the back doors for Russia's war machine to operate," added the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas. The Estonian politician has proposed a new initiative to increase EU military aid to Ukraine, although the level of ambition will be defined by the member states.

On this occasion, the European sanctions include the prohibition of transactions with eleven Russian ports and airports to prevent Moscow from bypassing the cap on the price of Russian oil and other restrictions imposed by the EU. It has also been agreed to exclude thirteen Russian banks from the Swift international banking system and the prohibition of carrying out financial transactions with another three institutions. In addition, 73 other ships will be added to the list of sanctioned vessels for belonging to Russia's "ghost fleet", and the EU broadcasting licenses of eight Russian media outlets will be suspended.

Frozen assets and ban on entering the EU

The EU-27 will also add 53 new entities to the list of natural or legal persons, entities and bodies that the EU considers to be military end-users, part of Russia's military-industrial complex or have commercial or other links to the defence and security sector. The sanctioned list will be expanded by 48 individuals and 35 entities, who will be subject to asset freezes and banned from entering the EU.

EU countries have agreed new bans on exports of chemical precursors, chromium and other products used in electronics, as well as providing oil and gas refining services. Imports of aluminium from Russia will also be banned. Additional approval requirements for drones and new sanction criteria will also be imposed for those supporting the Russian military industry and the owners and operators of the "ghost fleet", including captains.