Greece vetoes EU 21st Russia sanctions package to shield Dynagas LNG tanker fleet
The EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia is stalled because one member won't sign. Greece is shielding Dynagas, a Greek-owned operator of ice-class tankers that carry Russian LNG, from a proposed ban on moving that gas to third countries. Sanctions need unanimity, so the ve
The European Union's 21st sanctions package against Russia has stalled, and the obstacle is not Moscow but a single member state. Greece is refusing to approve the round because of one company: Dynagas, a Greek-owned shipping firm controlled by magnate George Prokopiou. Dynagas operates a fleet of specialized Arc7 ice-class tankers, vessels built to break through Arctic ice and serve Russia's Yamal LNG project. The draft package includes a ban on transporting Russian liquefied natural gas to third countries. Athens argues that such a ban would leave these ships, each valued at roughly 300 million dollars, with no viable route, since they cannot easily be redeployed elsewhere and could end up sold to buyers outside the West. Because EU sanctions require the unanimous agreement of all member states, a single objection is enough to freeze the entire package, which also targets additional Russian banks, cryptocurrency networks, and military-industrial firms. According to the Financial Times, the Greek position has already delayed adoption by at least a week. It is a reminder that the bloc's toughest external measures are only as strong as its most reluctant member, and that commercial interests inside the union can shape how far collective pressure on Russia actually goes.