In the context of 15 sanction packages, the European Union has so far imposed restrictive measures on 79 Russian tanker fleet ships. As Markus Lammert, a European Commission spokesperson, emphasized at a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday, the majority of the sanctioned ships are tankers transporting oil and methane.
The relevant question was posed by Bulgarian journalists, so Lammert highlighted that none of the sanctioned ships belong to Bulgaria.
By imposing sanctions on tanker ships, Brussels aims to exert more pressure on the Russian economy and reduce earnings from the export of natural resources, the official further emphasized.
Earlier in January, the US and the UK had expanded their restrictions on the Russian energy sector. The sanctions apply to two energy conglomerates and around 200 ships, which are allegedly part of the Russian “shadow fleet.” This measure was approved by the former US President Joe Biden, who had expected negative impacts on consumers in the US.
Against this backdrop, at least 65 tankers are said to have dropped anchor off the coasts of China, Russia and Singapore. India, in turn, is reportedly considering a ban on the docking of tankers sanctioned by the US.