New EU sanctions: third-country ports may be subject to restrictions due to Russian oil
10 February 10:18
The European Union has proposed a new package of sanctions against Russia, which for the first time includes restrictions on third-country ports that handle Russian oil.
This was reported by Reuters with reference to the relevant document, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
For the first time, a tool to counter sanctions circumvention is being proposed
According to the proposal, the Georgian port of Kulevi and the Indonesian port of Karimun are to be added to the sanctions list. Thus, if adopted, EU companies and citizens will be prohibited from conducting operations with these two ports.
These steps are part of the EU’s 20th package of sanctions in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine. It was jointly prepared by the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission and presented to EU member states on February 9.
What they plan to ban
In addition, as part of this package, Europeans are proposing to ban imports of metals, including nickel ingots, iron ores and concentrates, unrefined and processed copper, and various scrap metals, including aluminum.
Separately, it is proposed to ban imports of salt, ammonia, pebbles, silicon, and fur raw materials.
The European Union also wants to impose sanctions on two Kyrgyz banks that provide crypto asset services to the Russian Federation – Keremet and Capital Bank – as well as banks in Laos and Tajikistan. If approved, these banks will be prohibited from conducting transactions with EU citizens and companies.
It is proposed to add 30 individuals and 64 companies to the sanctions list. Among them are Bashneft, a public subsidiary of the Russian oil company Rosneft, as well as eight Russian oil refineries, including two large refineries controlled by Rosneft in Tuapse and Syzran.
However, Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, which are already under US sanctions, were not included in the list.
20th package of sanctions against Russia
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced a new, 20th package of sanctions against Russia in response to its war against Ukraine. It is to be adopted on February 24, the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The new package of sanctions covers three main areas:
Energy: A complete ban on maritime transport of Russian crude oil is being introduced and control over the shadow fleet is being tightened (43 vessels have been added to the list, bringing the total number to 640). Maintenance of tankers and icebreakers for LNG transport is prohibited.
Finance: 20 more Russian regional banks are added to the sanctions list, restrictions are imposed on cryptocurrency companies and platforms, and measures are taken against banks in third countries that facilitate illegal trade in sanctioned goods.
Trade and exports: The export of goods and services worth more than €360 million to Russia is prohibited, as well as metals, chemicals, and critical minerals worth more than €570 million. Additional restrictions are being imposed on materials used in the production of explosives and military supplies, as well as a quota on ammonia imports to limit existing supplies.
