EU's 17th sanctions package targets Russian 'shadow fleet'
The European Union has preliminarily agreed on the 17th package of sanctions against Russia for its military aggression towards Ukraine. The restrictions target the Russian "shadow fleet" and individuals involved in repressing opposition figures like Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza. The decision will be approved on May 20th at Eastern Time.
The European Union is preparing to implement the 17th package of sanctions against Russia. On Wednesday, EU country ambassadors reached a preliminary agreement on this matter.
"However, this is a very weak package, as diplomats unofficially admit that 'EU countries have reached the limit of their capacity to adopt more significant economic sanctions'" – reports Katarzyna Szymańska-Borginon, a correspondent in Brussels.
The new sanctions target the Russian "shadow fleet," which Vladimir Putin uses to sell oil by bypassing Western sanctions. Russia uses these old tankers to sell raw materials at prices higher than those set by the West.
The European Union plans to extend sanctions to 200 ships. As a result, these vessels cannot dock at European ports. Their technical condition poses an environmental threat, and their continued operation could lead to disasters such as oil spills.
Sanctions for repressions against opposition figures
The new package of sanctions will also target individuals responsible for harassing the opposition. This concerns 20 judges and prosecutors involved in the Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza cases.
The sanctions will also cover 30 companies that, despite existing restrictions, provide Russia with technologies and goods used in the war against Ukraine. The list includes companies from the Russian Federation, Turkey, Serbia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates. The EU's blacklist will be expanded to include 75 individuals and companies associated with the Russian defence industry.
This is not the end. Member countries also agreed on so-called hybrid sanctions, which will allow targeting ships responsible for destroying underwater cables and propaganda centres spreading misinformation. This is the second sanctions package coordinated by the Polish presidency in the EU Council. The previous 16th package was adopted at the end of February.
