EU Unveils 19th Sanctions Package Targeting Russia’s LNG and Shadow Fleet

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The European Union has adopted its 19th round of sanctions against Russia, marking the first time the bloc has targeted Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). The sweeping package, approved as EU leaders gathered in Brussels, also strikes at Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet”, vessels used to evade Western oil price caps.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the measures on X, declaring that the EU was “hitting Russia’s gas sector – the heart of its war economy.” The new sanctions include a phased ban on Russian LNG imports, with the aim of halting all trade in shipped gas by January 1, 2027. The move follows a surge in Russian LNG imports in 2024, which had undermined Europe’s efforts to curtail Moscow’s war funding.

The EU also added 117 vessels to its sanctions list, bringing the total to 558 tankers banned from EU ports and insurance services. These ships are part of Russia’s estimated 600–1,400 unregulated “shadow fleet,” used to sell oil above the G7-imposed price cap to countries like China and India.

Additional restrictions were introduced on Russian diplomats, who will now need to notify authorities before traveling between EU member states. Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, hailed the LNG ban as a major step toward eliminating Russian energy dependence.

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The approval followed Slovakia’s decision to lift its veto and coincided with fresh U.S. sanctions on Russia’s largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. Von der Leyen noted improved coordination with Washington, calling it a “clear signal from both sides.”

Meanwhile, debate continues over a proposed EU-backed loan to Ukraine secured on frozen Russian assets, with Belgium expressing legal and ethical concerns about the plan.