On May 20, the Council of the European Union adopted the seventeenth package of sanctions targeting Russia in response to its continued military aggression against Ukraine.
Russian “Ghost Fleet”: The EU has blacklisted 189 additional ships from third countries that have been supporting the so-called Russian “Ghost Fleet,” used to illicitly transport crude oil and petroleum products. These ships are now barred from accessing European ports and from providing various essential services. The sanctions also include asset freezes and a ban on providing financing to companies based in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Hong Kong, accused of facilitating these illicit activities. In addition, a Russian insurance company linked to such operations has been specifically sanctioned.
Russian Energy Sector: A major Russian oil company and a shipping company have been included in the new sanctions package, thus limiting Russia’s ability to trade its oil and petroleum products on international markets.
Russian Military-Industrial Complex and Combating Evasion: More than 45 Russian entities and individuals that have been supplying drones, weapons, ammunition, military equipment, critical components, and logistical support to the Russian military have been targeted with direct sanctions. In addition, restrictive measures have been applied against entities located in third countries such as China, Belarus, and Israel, which facilitate the provision of essential components to the Russian military complex. In a further effort to combat sanctions evasion, 31 new entities are now subject to strict restrictions on the export of dual-use goods and technologies. This measure directly affects companies located in countries such as Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan. New specific limitations have also been imposed on the export of products such as chemical precursors and spare parts for industrial machinery.
Protection of Ukraine’s Cultural and Agricultural Heritage: The Council has also included specific measures to address the systematic plundering of cultural heritage in Crimea and the illegal exploitation of Ukrainian agricultural resources, with the addition of new entities to the sanctions lists. The measures have been officially published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
For more information, see the following link: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/es/press/press-releases/2025/05/20/russia-s-war-of-aggression-against-ukraine-eu-agrees-17th-package-of-sanctions/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
