European Union (EU) Decided to Close Ports to Russian Ships

While European Union (EU) member states opted to block their ports to Russian ships, it was pointed out that an exemption was made for the transit of natural gas and oil. On April 5, the EU announced the fifth set of restrictions, which barred Russian ships owned and managed by the government from entering ports. EU member states have made declarations in recent days indicating that they had closed their ports to the aforementioned ships one by one. All ships "registered under the Russian flag," including yachts and pleasure craft, will be subject to the prohibition. Ships that sail under the Russian flag to another country after the Russian army launched its attacks on Ukraine on February 24 will also be barred. Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Belgium, and Italy implemented the EU directive as of midnight on April 16th, in accordance with the ruling. In the explanations, a few exceptions stand out. The European Union (EU) said that this judgment includes numerous exceptions. According to the statements, any Russian ship that legally entered the ports prior to the sanctions will be allowed to leave. Ships loaded with all pharmaceutical, medical, agricultural, and food products, including wheat and fertilizers, as well as ships carrying nuclear fuel and other goods fundamentally necessary for the functioning of civil nuclear capacity, are all exceptions. Because the embargo on coal imports from Russia envisioned in the 5th sanctions package will not take effect until August 10, coal and other solid fossil fuels can still be purchased, imported, or transported in the EU until then.