Brussels Ready to Act Without Full G7 Backing
The European Union has made clear it is prepared to press ahead with tougher sanctions on Russia, even if it cannot secure unanimous backing from its G7 partners. Valdis Dombrovskis said a coordinated agreement would be preferable, but stressed that it is not an “absolute precondition” for action.
Brussels wants its 20th sanctions package adopted by 24 February, marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. If approved, the measures would include a full ban on maritime services for Russian oil tankers — a move that would effectively end the G7 price cap system within EU jurisdiction. Under such a ban, EU companies would be barred from servicing Russian vessels regardless of the price at which the oil is sold.
The price cap, introduced in December 2022, was most recently set at $44.10 per barrel. While the European Commission had previously indicated it would wait for a G7 decision before moving forward, Dombrovskis’ latest remarks suggest a firmer stance.
Uncertainty Among Allies
Discussions with G7 partners are ongoing, but it remains unclear how many would be willing to scrap the price cap alongside the EU. The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia have acknowledged the proposal and said talks continue, emphasizing cooperation to curb Russian energy revenues. The United States and Japan have not publicly commented.
Within the EU itself, negotiations are still under way. Diplomats say Greece, which has a powerful shipping industry, has voiced concerns about the potential impact of a full maritime services ban. Athens fears the move could boost competition from countries such as India and China, strengthen Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” and encourage more vessels to abandon EU registries through a practice known as deflagging.
Still, several member states argue that stronger measures are necessary. As Sweden’s finance minister put it, broader alignment would be ideal — but the EU must ultimately “do what we need to do.”
Spotlight on Kyrgyzstan and Sanctions Evasion
Beyond oil, the new sanctions package would also activate the EU’s Anti-Circumvention Tool for the first time. The mechanism is designed to restrict exports of sensitive goods to countries suspected of rerouting them to Russia.
Attention has turned to Kyrgyzstan, a nation of seven million that shares a customs union with Moscow. Since the invasion began, trade between the EU and Kyrgyzstan has surged dramatically — 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 worries could be re-exported to Russia and potentially used on the battlefield in Ukraine.
EU ambassadors are expected to continue negotiations throughout the week. While the 24 February deadline remains the target, officials acknowledge that more time may be needed if member states struggle to reach agreement on what would be one of the bloc’s most far-reaching sanctions packages to date.
