Overview
- The European Commission presented a draft package focused on energy, finance and trade, proposing a full ban on EU maritime services for Russian crude to cut Moscow’s oil revenues.
- The plan targets sanctions evasion by adding 43 tankers to the shadow‑fleet list for a total of 640 and by banning maintenance and other services for LNG carriers and icebreakers.
- Financial measures would list 20 additional Russian regional banks, curb crypto channels used to bypass restrictions, and sanction several banks in third countries linked to illicit trade.
- Trade steps include new import bans on metals, chemicals and critical minerals, tighter export curbs on battlefield‑relevant items, a quota on ammonia, and first use of an anti‑circumvention tool to restrict risky re‑exports.
- EU envoys begin discussions next week and all 27 states must agree for the package to take effect, while Hungary has sued over the separate EU gas phase‑out and Slovakia says it will mount a coordinated court challenge.