Changes in the EU's approaches to sanctions against Russia
The European Union may change its approaches to imposing sanctions against Russia, in particular abandoning the package format, due to Greece blocking the 21st sanctions package. Greece demanded an exemption for the company Dynagas, which is engaged in the transportation of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). This became the first case of weakening the general economic sanctions of the EU against Russia, which were adopted since February 2022.
Greece blocked the 21st sanctions package for several weeks due to the requirement regarding Dynagas, which is owned by billionaire Georgios Prokopiou. In October 2025, a sanctions package was adopted that prohibited Dynagas from transporting Russian LNG to countries outside the EU starting in January 2027. However, Greece secured an exemption allowing the company to continue transportation, raising certain questions about the integrity of the overall sanctions measures.
Prospects and consequences of changes in sanctions policy
As a result of this development, European officials are considering the possibility of imposing sanctions individually or in small thematic blocks. This could significantly change the mechanisms for imposing sanctions, as they were previously adopted in the form of comprehensive packages. Since the beginning of the sanctions policy against Russia, the following have been affected:
- measures regarding Russia's oil revenues,
- freezing the assets of 94 Russian financial institutions,
- prohibiting transactions for 33 banks.
The situation with sanctions against Russia remains a relevant and sensitive topic in international politics. The change in approaches to their imposition may indicate growing discrepancies among EU countries regarding methods of pressure on Russia, which could potentially complicate the alignment of joint actions. In the event of further expansion of exemptions or individual decisions, this may lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of sanctions and affect the strategic unity of the EU in countering aggression from Russia.
The recent developments regarding Greece's demands highlight the complexities of the EU's sanctions strategy. As the bloc grapples with internal disagreements, the implications of these changes may reshape how sanctions are imposed in the future. For a deeper understanding of the latest sanctions package focused on Russian financial institutions and oil, you can explore the details in our article about the EU's agreement on the 21st sanctions package.