BRUSSELS — The EU will not attempt to fully ban Russian liquefied natural gas purchases in its latest sanctions package, two EU diplomats told POLITICO, defying pressure to outlaw imports of the supercooled fuel.
The European Commission is set to formally present its 16th sanctions package against Russia to EU capitals Wednesday, according to the two diplomats, who were granted anonymity to speak freely.
The proposal will not include a blanket prohibition of LNG imports, as EU hawks have been urging. Instead, it would only stop Russian LNG from going to EU terminals not connected to the EU’s gas system — a restriction that won’t affect the majority of LNG imports.
Separate from LNG, the sanctions package will propose penalties on more aging oil-exporting tankers operating as part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, the diplomats added. The EU will target 74 new vessels, two other EU diplomats said.
