Macron Called For A Complete Ban On Russian Oil Exports By Sea

• 23.02.2026, 19:23

Such a ban is being considered as part of the EU's new 20th package of sanctions.

The European Union should work on a complete ban on maritime services for Russian oil exports as part of the 20th package of EU sanctions, French President Emmanuel Macron said at a joint press conference with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

"We need to move forward on the 20th package of European Union sanctions, and discussions will take place in the coming days. We need to work on a complete ban on maritime services for Russian oil exports, and intensify our joint efforts against the so-called Russian shadow fleet," he said.

The EU may impose a complete ban on maritime services related to Russian oil shipments even if such a move is not supported by the G7 countries, European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Valdis Dombrovskis said earlier.

The initiative for such a ban is a key section of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, which the EU expects to approve by February 24. It is intended to replace the current ceiling on Russian oil prices agreed with the G7.