Greece has emerged as the principal opponent of proposed European Union measures that would restrict EU shipping companies from transporting and trading Russian liquefied natural gas, delaying agreement on the bloc’s latest sanctions package.
EU ambassadors failed to reach unanimity during meetings on 15 and 16 July, pushing negotiations on the proposed 21st sanctions package to 23 July. Austria has also raised objections to other elements of the package, although Greece’s concerns centre specifically on the commercial consequences for European LNG shipping.
Athens argues that the restrictions could weaken European shipowners without materially reducing Russia’s capacity to export LNG. Cargoes could instead be transferred to operators based in China, Japan, the United States or other non-EU jurisdictions, allowing Russian supply to continue while European companies surrender market share.
The issue is particularly sensitive for Greece because Greek-controlled companies operate one of the world’s largest LNG carrier fleets. Operators including Dynagas own specialised Arc7 ice-class vessels used on Russia’s Yamal LNG route. These ships were designed for Arctic conditions and have fewer commercially viable alternatives than conventional LNG carriers, making an enforced withdrawal from Russian trade potentially more expensive for their owners.
The proposed restrictions would extend the EU’s effort to reduce Russian energy revenues beyond imports into Europe. The European Commission has previously indicated that European companies could be prevented from trading Russian LNG internationally, not merely from delivering it to EU terminals. That would transform the measure from an import restriction into a wider maritime-services prohibition.
Greece has supported previous sanctions against Russia but wants the LNG provisions recalibrated. Its position reflects a broader conflict between foreign-policy objectives and Europe’s interest in preserving control over strategically important maritime infrastructure. Removing European owners from Russian LNG transport would not necessarily immobilise the cargoes, particularly where alternative operators, insurers and trading structures can be established outside the EU.
The disagreement also comes as European gas prices have returned to their highest levels of 2026, increasing the sensitivity of any policy that could disrupt LNG logistics. A compromise is likely to require more targeted restrictions, transitional arrangements for specialised vessels or stronger evidence that the measures would constrain Russian revenue rather than merely redistribute shipping activity.
