According to experts, despite the limits of this ban, it is a first step which ultimately will not affect the supply of European citizens.
For the first time, the European Union sanctions Russian liquefied natural gas. The 14th package of measures against Moscow provides for a ban on deliveries, but it will not be a total suspension, as for coal and oil.
Member countries will be allowed to buy it, but it will not be possible to reship it outside the Union.
For the President of the European Commission, it is essential to reduce Russia’s revenues.
“I welcome the agreement on our 14th package of sanctions against Russia. This radical package of measures will prevent Russia from accessing key technologies. It will deprive Russia of new energy revenues. And it will tackle the ghost fleet and Putin’s shadow banking network abroad,” explains Ursula von der Leyen.
According to experts, despite the limits of this ban, it is a first step which ultimately will not affect the supply of European citizens.
“Gas has never been sanctioned since a large-scale invasion. So I would say this is an important first step. And it’s very important because the European Union created, for Russia , enormous logistical obstacles,” notes Petras Katinas, energy analyst at the Center for Energy and Clean Air Research.
To be able to transport LNG to Asia during the winter, Russia needs access to European ports in France and Belgium, a solution which will therefore soon be prohibited.
“Russia will not be able to use our ports. That means it will either have to use direct ships to Asia. Or it will have to find somewhere else, say probably in Turkey or other countries, where it can transship. This means that their logistics route will be longer, plus it will cost them more to try to ship it,” explains Petras Katinas.
The adoption of this package of sanctions has been postponed several times due to reservations expressed by several countries, including Germany and Hungary.
