EU, UK ramp up sanctions against Russia, targeting more than 100 vessels

Marking the third anniversary of Russia’s war against Ukraine, Europe has published a new round of sanctions against Russia, even as recently re-elected US President Donald Trump has initiated unilateral talks with Russia’s internationally ostracised president Vladimir Putin.

In its 16th package of economic measures levied in retaliation for Russia’s war against neighbour Ukraine, the European Union (EU) has nearly doubled its number of sanctioned vessels and added targeted sanctions against companies the bloc says are aiding in circumvention of existing sanctions.

The 74 vessels added to EU sanctions lists bring the bloc’s total number of sanctioned vessels to 153.

"These vessels are part of the shadow fleet or contributed to Russia’s energy revenues," the European Commission said.

The sanctions have also targeted 53 companies the EU has charged with circumventing sanctions or supporting Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine and introduced a new operational profile for companies under sanction by including "those who support the unsafe operations of oil tankers".

The EU has further tightened restrictions on the transhipment of Russian crude oil by prohibiting the temporary storage or placement of crude cargoes and petroleum products in EU ports.

Other energy-related actions by the bloc against Russia have extended existing prohibitions on goods, services and technology transfer related to Russian LNG projects to Russian crude oil projects, citing the country’s Vostok oil project. 

In January, draft versions of the EU’s sanctions reportedly included a phased ban on Russian LNG which was quietly dropped from consideration. 

With French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer set for state meetings with President Trump in Washington, DC, this week, the UK published its own list of what it called its largest sanctions package against Russia since 2022. 

The UK has sanctioned what it says are 40 "shadow fleet ships carrying Russian oil", taking the country’s total number of maritime vessels designated as under sanction to 133. 

"As the world marks the grim milestone of Putin’s full-scale invasion entering its fourth year, we cannot and will not turn our backs on Ukraine in its fight for our shared security," UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has already publicly disagreed with the US presidential administration’s statements regarding support for Ukraine and its place in negotiations over the future of its country. 

"Three years on from Putin’s barbaric full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we face a once-in-a-generation moment for our collective security and values. We continue to stand with Ukraine for a just and lasting peace," Mr Starmer said in a post on social media platform, X (formerly Twitter).