From March 26, sanctions against Russian liquefied gas came into effect in European ports: tankers carrying Russian LNG will not be able to use port services for transshipment for further dispatch to buyers, writes The Moscow Times*. This complicated the delivery of gas to African and Asian countries.
The corresponding EU restrictions were approved in June 2024, but until today, a delay was provided for fulfilling obligations under previously concluded contracts.
European ports are also prohibited from providing Russians with technical and financial support and brokerage services.
A significant portion of Russian supplies passes through European ports, primarily from the "Yamal LNG" project owned by "Novatek", where gas is transferred from ice-class LNG tankers to regular ones to then be sent to other countries. "If they cannot transship gas in Europe, they will have to send ice-class tankers on longer routes, meaning the number of shipments will decrease, as ships will not be able to return as quickly as they do now," believes gas expert Kpler Laura Page.
Meanwhile, as Reuters writes, the EU stated that one of the main conditions for the cancellation and modification of sanctions is the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. "The cessation of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified aggression in Ukraine and the unconditional withdrawal of all Russian armed forces from the entire territory of Ukraine would be one of the main prerequisites for changing or lifting sanctions," noted a representative of the European Commission.
On Tuesday, the United States reached separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia to suspend their attacks at sea and against energy facilities, with Washington agreeing to insist on lifting some sanctions against Moscow.
* Recognized in Russia as a "foreign agent" and "undesirable" organization.