Measures against Russian liquefied natural gas are included as EU countries have finally agreed on their 14th sanctions package against Russia.
The "shadow fleet" used to circumvent previous sanctions is also affected.
"EU ambassadors have just agreed on a powerful and substantial 14th sanctions package in response to Russian aggression against Ukraine," the Council Presidency, Belgium, triumphantly announced on Thursday morning.
This puts an end to nearly two months of disagreement over the package's contents.
Agreement reached
The final result has not yet been publicly disclosed in detail, but it includes measures against the Russian "shadow fleet" and an import ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to European LNG terminals not connected to the EU's common gas network.
"The measure, proposed by Sweden, means that Swedish importers must now terminate their existing contracts with Russia," Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) commented in writing to TT.
For the "shadow fleet", it is now possible to sanction the vessels used to circumvent EU sanctions.
Frozen assets
According to an EU source, more than 100 individuals and companies or organisations will also be added to the list of those who will not be granted visas to the EU and whose EU assets will be frozen.
Additionally, measures will be taken against Russian economic support to individuals and organisations in the EU aimed at "undermining our democratic systems".
The 14th sanctions package was presented as early as the beginning of May, but has been stuck due to resistance from primarily Hungary, but also Germany.
