The European Commission presented new sanctions against Russia to ambassadors: the discussion took place without meeting controversy

The European Commission has presented to the EU member states a draft of the 17th package of sanctions against the Russian Federation, which includes restrictions on vessels associated with the so-called shadow fleet.

This was announced by a senior EU diplomat after a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in Brussels, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

As a reminder, the new package proposes to impose restrictions on more than 150 vessels associated with the so-called shadow fleet, which Russia uses to circumvent oil sanctions. The total number of tankers subject to sanctions will thus exceed 300.

The European Commission also advocates sanctions against more than 60 individuals and legal entities, including about 50 companies, including five Chinese ones, and 31 enterprises that support the Russian army or help circumvent existing restrictions. Some of them are related to shipping.

“The 17th package of sanctions was presented today. The discussion was very consensual, now all member states are analyzing it in more detail, but I don’t think there will be any serious problems. In my opinion, it can probably be adopted quite soon,” the European diplomat noted.

According to the interlocutor of the journalists, there were no conflicting points or controversial topics in the new package.

“The package is, in essence, quite consensual. We feel that we have reached the limits of sanctions — which is not a negative remark, I just think that we have done too much within the framework of the previous 16th package, and we cannot go much further,” he explained.

The development of the 17th package is taking place against the backdrop of discussions on the effectiveness of the measures already implemented and the search for new points of influence that would not hit the economies of the EU member states at the same time.

The day before, USM wrote that the new restrictions could affect about 150 vessels involved in sanctions circumvention schemes, as well as 60 individuals and legal entities.