Under the 20th sanctions package, the EU has introduced new restrictions against the Russian oil sector, the LNG market, and has also prohibited the import of platinum, copper, nickel, aluminium products, molybdenum, and cobalt, as outlined in the EU Council's regulation published on 23 April [here](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/04/23/russia-s-war-of-aggression-against-ukraine-20th-round-of-stern-eu-sanctions-hits-energy-military-industrial-complex-trade-and-financial-services-including-crypto/).
While the anticipated ban on providing services for the transportation of Russian oil is absent in this new package, the EU Council has indicated that the package includes a "foundation for a future ban," which will be coordinated with the G7. According to the regulation, it is advisable to amend the price cap on Russian oil and petroleum products. It is expected that new restrictions will be introduced at the suggestion of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs. “This will allow alliance members to swiftly block maritime logistics for Russian oil should the price cap parameters change,” the document states.
The EU had viewed the prohibition on servicing maritime shipments of Russian oil as an alternative to the price cap mechanism, as noted by Kpler.
Currently, if the cost of the raw material does not exceed the set limit, companies from EU and G7 countries can participate in transporting oil from Russia. From 1 February, the EU and UK reduced the limit to $44.1 per barrel, down from the previous $47.6 per barrel. The price cap is to be reviewed every six months to maintain it at 15% below the average market price.
According to S&P Global, the desire for full support from the G7 may delay the decision regarding the ban on providing services for the transport of Russian oil by several months. Representatives from major shipping economies, such as Malta and Greece, as well as Hungary and Slovakia, were opposed to the ban, analysts noted.
Data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea and Maritime Intelligence Risk Suite indicate that in March, G7-affiliated tankers accounted for 20.3% of Russia's oil exports at a volume of 3.4 million barrels per day. This is a decrease from 29.2% in February, marking the lowest level in ten months. G7-affiliated tankers are reducing shipments of Russian crude due to rising prices following the onset of the conflict in the Middle East.
- The sanctions have affected Bashneft (the largest shareholder is Rosneft), Slavneft (owned by Rosneft and Gazprom Neft), the ports of Primorsk and Tuapse, as well as 12 refineries in Russia, including those of Lukoil.
- Another 46 vessels have been banned from entering ports and maritime services, bringing the total number on the blacklist to 632 tankers.
- The EU has also imposed restrictions on the sale of tankers from EU countries to prevent their eventual use by Russia, according to the document. European countries are now required to provide documentation stating that the tankers are “not for the RF.”
- Additionally, the ports of Murmansk and Karimun in Indonesia have fallen under European restrictions.
As reported by [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/indonesias-karimun-terminal-becomes-key-russian-oil-hub-sources-say-2025-05-08/), by 2025, Karimun had become one of the main transshipment points for Russian petroleum products, which were then exported to Malaysia, Singapore, and China. In December, supplies were estimated at 300,000 tonnes.
Sergey Tereshkin, CEO of Open Oil Market, indicates that tankers registered outside the EU and the largest OECD countries are likely to play an even larger role in the transportation of crude from Russia. The reduction of re-exports through the Karimun terminal presents risks, but it is anticipated that another similar location will be found, he adds. Overall, he states that the current sanctions package will significantly impact logistics costs. He also notes that, unlike the US, the EU lacks a monitoring apparatus for previously imposed restrictions.
Regarding LNG, the EU intends to introduce a ban on providing services to Russian companies at LNG terminals starting 1 January 2027. The European Commission believes this ban provides the basis for operators of LNG terminals in the EU to terminate long-term contracts with Russian companies. Verba Legal advisor Marat Samarsky states that external policy and security policy take precedence over other areas of law. "We have seen this in previous and relatively recent cases where courts have justified the urgent imposition of sanctions without verifying the grounds for the alleged urgency of effectiveness," he points out.
Services provided at LNG terminals include, among other things, unloading, storage, dispatch, mooring, regasification, liquefaction, loading into tank trucks, LNG bunkering, including temporary storage, etc. Yamal LNG (50.1% owned by Novatek, 20% by TotalEnergies) has a 20-year agreement with Belgium's Fluxys LNG for using a tank for transshipment at the terminal in Zeebrugge. Since April 2025, a ban on the re-export of Russian LNG to third countries has been in effect in EU ports, after which Russia increased its supplies to the European market.
The new sanctions will also impose a ban on services – technical, financial, or brokerage – to Russian LNG tankers and icebreakers starting from 25 April 2026.
By 1 January, it was reported that a ban on supplying LNG under long-term contracts to the EU would come into force, while for short-term contracts, the ban will take effect on 25 April 2026. Due to the conflict in the Middle East, there have been sporadic calls from European businesses to reconsider this ban. For instance, Claudio Descalzi, CEO of the Italian group Eni, stated that it remains unclear how the bloc can compensate for the loss of about 20 billion cubic meters of Russian LNG. However, the European Commission has stated it will adhere to its previous intentions. Recently, Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen stated that the EU would not abandon its plans to cease purchasing any Russian energy, as it would be a "huge mistake."
Analysts did not expect significant impacts from the new restrictions on metal supplies for Russia ([see “Ъ” from 9 February](https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8419213)). For example, Norilsk Nickel reported in its 2024 financial statements that it had redirected a significant portion of its copper, nickel, and precious metal sales from Europe mainly to Asian and Russian markets.
Source: Kommersant
