The European Union proposed a new sanctions package Tuesday targeting Russian oil exports, the "shadow fleet" of tankers, fisheries, and Russian soldiers.
These measures aim to restrict Moscow's economic relief and maintain the oil price-cap to limit the funds available for the invasion of Ukraine. By targeting the illicit transport of oil and gas, the bloc intends to close loopholes used to evade previous restrictions.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the proposal in Brussels. The package includes an entry ban on Russian soldiers and targets cryptocurrency exchanges used to bypass sanctions [1, 2]. This represents the 21st set of EU measures implemented since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began [3].
Von der Leyen said the measures are designed to increase the cost of the conflict for the Kremlin. "Four years after the start of its full-scale invasion, Russia has clearly failed to subjugate Ukraine," von der Leyen said [4].
The sanctions specifically target the "shadow fleet," a network of tankers used to transport Russian oil illicitly [5]. The EU also intends to penalize Russian fisheries as part of the broader effort to degrade the Russian economy.
Von der Leyen said that the price Russia pays is heavier by the day and that it is paid primarily by the people of Russia [4]. The proposal now moves toward formal adoption by EU member states.
“"Four years after the start of its full-scale invasion, Russia has clearly failed to subjugate Ukraine."”
The focus on the 'shadow fleet' and cryptocurrency exchanges indicates a shift toward targeting the infrastructure of evasion. By moving beyond simple trade bans to disrupt the logistics and financial tools Russia uses to bypass the oil price-cap, the EU is attempting to create a more airtight economic blockade that directly impacts the Kremlin's ability to fund its military operations.
