Brussels Willing to Act Without Full G7 Unity
The European Union is prepared to move ahead with a sweeping ban on maritime services for Russian oil tankers, even if it fails to secure full backing from its G7 partners.
Valdis Dombrovskis said a joint decision would be ideal but stressed that it is not an “absolute precondition” for action. His comments come as EU member states negotiate a 20th package of sanctions against the Kremlin, which Brussels hopes to finalise by 24 February — the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
If approved, the proposed ban would effectively end the G7’s oil price cap within the EU. European companies would be barred from providing services to Russian tankers, no matter the price at which the oil is sold. The cap currently stands at $44.10 per barrel.
Dombrovskis acknowledged that coordination with the G7 remains the preferred route, but made clear that the bloc is ready to act independently if a broader agreement does not materialise.
Allies Divided as Deadline Nears
The tougher stance marks a shift in tone from the European Commission, which had previously indicated it would wait for a G7 decision before implementing a full services ban. Now, with the anniversary deadline looming, Brussels appears more willing to push ahead alone.
Governments including the United Kingdom and Canada, along with Australia, have said discussions are ongoing. London said it continues to work closely with EU and G7 partners to increase pressure on Russian energy revenues.
However, the United States and Japan have not publicly responded on whether they would support ending the price cap system.
Within the EU, some resistance remains. Greece, which has a strong maritime sector, has raised concerns that a full ban could boost competition from India and China while strengthening Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” Athens is also wary that ships could increasingly resort to “deflagging,” switching national registries to sidestep restrictions.
Sweden’s finance minister has urged determination, saying that while broader participation would be better, the EU must ultimately take the steps it believes are necessary.
Kyrgyzstan in Focus Over Sanctions Evasion
The new sanctions package also includes plans to activate the EU’s Anti-Circumvention Tool for the first time. The measure would restrict exports of certain EU-made goods — including computer numerical control machines and radio equipment — to countries considered at high risk of re-exporting them to Russia.
That has drawn attention to Kyrgyzstan, a country of around seven million people that shares a customs union with Moscow. Trade between the EU and Kyrgyzstan has surged dramatically since the invasion began, jumping from €263 million in exports in 2021 to €2.5 billion in 2024.
More than half of those exports consist of machinery and transport equipment — items Brussels fears could be redirected to Russia and repurposed for use in the war in Ukraine.
EU ambassadors are continuing negotiations throughout the week in an effort to approve the sanctions package by 24 February, though officials acknowledge the deadline could slip if more time is needed to reach agreement.
