EU Considers Ban on Maritime Services for Russian Oil Exports
According to the Economic Desk of Webangah News Agency, Russia exports over a third of its oil using Western tankers and shipping services to countries like China and India. A proposed ban could halt this trade, which is largely facilitated by maritime fleets from EU nations including Greece, Cyprus, and Malta.
The remaining two-thirds of Russia’s oil exports are transported by a “shadow fleet” consisting of hundreds of tankers operating outside Western maritime standards and oversight. Should the G7 and EU implement a maritime services ban, Russia would need to expand this fleet significantly.
Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the ban could be part of the next EU sanctions package against Russia, potentially implemented in early 2026. Other sources indicated that the EU prefers to enact the ban alongside a broader agreement with the G7 before including it in a new sanctions proposal.
British and American officials are reportedly pushing for this measure in technical meetings with the G7, according to these sources.
Four sources stated that any final decision by the U.S. hinges on pressure tactics adopted by President Donald Trump’s administration amidst ongoing peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
While the G7 and EU have significantly reduced Russian oil imports since 2022, this proposed action represents their most comprehensive effort to restrict trade in Russian crude oil and fuel, encompassing not only imports but also shipping and maritime services.
In 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the G7 imposed a price cap on Russian oil to limit the Kremlin’s revenues while allowing third countries to purchase Russian oil using Western services, provided it was bought below the set price.
To circumvent this price cap, Russia has increasingly relied on its own tankers to transport oil to Asia. Many of these vessels have since been sanctioned by the West due to their age, obscure ownership, and lack of Western insurance coverage.
The Trump administration has reportedly expressed skepticism about the price cap and refrained from supporting the UK, EU, and Canada when they agreed to reduce the crude oil price cap from $60 per barrel to $47.6 per barrel in September 2025.
According to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, a Finland-based independent research organization, 44% of Russia’s oil exports in October were transported by tankers in the sanctioned “shadow fleet.”
Reuters reports that approximately 18% of oil was transported by tankers in the non-sanctioned “shadow fleet,” while tankers associated with G7, EU, and Australian countries carried 38% of Russian oil.
