Razom We Stand welcomes the agreement of the European Union’s 21st sanctions package against Russia, describing it as an important step in strengthening pressure on the Kremlin while warning that significant loopholes remain that continue to allow Russia’s fossil fuel revenues to finance its war against Ukraine.
The package includes the freezing of the G7/EU oil price cap at its current level of $44.10 per barrel for the next 12 months, preventing an automatic increase during a period of heightened market volatility. It also introduces new measures targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, including for the first time vessels assisting its operations, and strengthens restrictions on the transfer of gas tankers that could support Russia’s future LNG exports.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement, stating: “Freezing the oil price cap adjustment for a year, so that the Russian war machine does not benefit from market shocks. For the first time, we’re targeting vessels assisting Russia’s shadow fleet.”
Dr. Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, said:
“Europe has taken another step forward, but it has also taken one step back. By preserving loopholes and granting exemptions, Russia will continue to make billions for its war against Ukraine while European shipping companies are still allowed to transport Russian oil and LNG to international markets. That is fundamentally incompatible with the EU’s commitment to stand with Ukraine.”
“The next sanctions package must finally end European involvement in Russia’s fossil fuel trade by prohibiting the transfer of Russian LNG to third countries beyond the EU. It is shameful that the Greek government protects the company Dynagas, owned by the Greek oligarch George Prokopiou, which keeps powering Putin’s war machine.”
No EU or G7-linked company should remain connected to Russian fossil fuel revenues. Governments must work with domestic companies to secure a full exit from the Russian energy market, including through binding legislative measures. Continued involvement in projects such as Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 2, including by companies like TotalEnergies, risks enabling future Russian export capacity and undermining the integrity of
While the package represents further progress in tightening restrictions on Russia’s energy exports, Razom We Stand is extremely concerned that the agreement includes a one-year exemption allowing the continued transport of Russian LNG to non-EU countries under pre-war contracts. The exemption, secured following threats from Greece to block the entire package, protects the interests of Greek LNG shipowner Dynagas despite the EU having already agreed to phase out Russian LNG under long-term contracts from January 2027. Granting such carve-outs risks undermining the credibility of EU sanctions, signalling that commercial interests can still weaken collective action against the Kremlin’s fossil fuel revenues.
The organisation also welcomes the package’s restrictions on the sale and transfer of gas tankers, an important step towards limiting Russia’s efforts to build an independent LNG fleet. However, further action is needed to prevent the transfer or long-term charter of Arc-4 and Arc-7 ice-class LNG carriers to Russian entities or offshore intermediaries, while export controls should be expanded to include the specialised marine equipment required to maintain Russia’s Arctic LNG fleet.
At a time of elevated global energy prices, allowing European businesses to benefit from Russian fossil fuel trade is incompatible with the EU’s stated commitment to Ukraine. Limiting Russia’s energy revenues must remain a central objective—not only as a matter of sanctions policy, but as a necessary step toward ending the war and strengthening Europe’s long-term security.
Following the adoption of the EU’s 21st sanctions package, Razom We Stand urges EU and G7 leaders to:
- Adopt a comprehensive Maritime Services Ban on Russian oil, oil products, LNG and coal exports.
- Prevent the sale, transfer or long-term charter of Arc-4 and Arc-7 LNG carriers to Russian entities or proxy jurisdictions and strengthen export controls on specialised marine equipment used to maintain Russia’s Arctic fleet.
- Expand sanctions enforcement against third-country facilitators enabling Russian fossil fuel exports through opaque ownership structures, re-export schemes and flags of convenience.
- Target Russia’s wider Arctic export infrastructure, including transshipment hubs, logistics networks, port servicing facilities and shipbuilding capacity supporting LNG exports.
- Accelerate investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency across Europe and Ukraine to permanently eliminate dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
