EU implements first-ever sanctions on Russian gas

The European Union has approved the first-ever sanctions on Russian gas, as confirmed by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday.

The ambassadors of the European Union agreed on a “powerful and substantial” package of measures, the 14th against the Kremlin for its war against Ukraine, providing new targeted actions against the gas sector. The new set of sanctions prohibits EU ports from reselling Russian liquid natural gas (LNG) after its arrival and blocks financing for Russia’s planned Arctic and Baltic LNG terminals. Nevertheless, the penalties will not affect most of Russia’s LNG trade with the EU.

“I welcome the agreement on our 14th sanctions package against Russia. This hard-hitting package will further deny Russia access to key technologies. It will strip Russia of further energy revenues. And tackle Putin’s shadow fleet and shadow banking network abroad,” von der Leyen commented on X.