UK closes ports to Russian vessels; EU resolution calls for broader ban

Mr Shapps said the UK Government "will seek to support UK ports in identifying Russian ships" and "will communicate directly with relevant ports when we identify ships bound for UK ports [which] fall within the scope" outlined in the letter.

The letter did not list specific identification methods or means of imposing the ban.

Mr Shapps’s letter said the UK Government is "in co-ordination with our international allies and partners... developing an unprecedented package of further sanctions".

"Russia’s assault on Ukraine is an unprovoked, premeditated attack against a sovereign, democratic state. The UK Government has made clear that there would be massive consequences and a severe cost for any Russian military incursion into Ukraine," the letter to the ports said.

"The maritime sector is fundamental to international trade and we must play our part in restricting Russia’s economic interests and holding the Russian Government to account," Mr Shapps said.

The EU Parliament passed a similar resolution on 1 March, and will now lobby for EU member states to adopt the resolution.

The EU’s resolution "calls for EU ports to be closed to Russian ships" and goes further than the UK as it "calls for access to all EU ports to be refused for ships whose last or next port of call is in the Russian Federation, except in the case of necessary justified humanitarian reasons".

The UK’s ban allows for Russian cargoes, notably energy cargoes, to come and go from UK ports, if they are on ships without ties to Russian-sanctioned entities and individuals.

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