Sanctions against Russia: How to block oil and gas exports from Russia?

Brussels presented a white book with clear steps on how to increase economic pressure on Russia, to block bypassing ways of supplying energy and transform sanction EU policy on an effective security tool. Can European sanctions really stop the war? Svetlana Romanko says, director Razom We Stand.

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Brussels presented a white book “The Future of European Leadership in Holding Aggression by Economic Remedies.” This is important not only for Ukraine, but for the whole of Europe. The document offers clear steps on how to make sanctions against Russia a real security tool. Because if European sanctions and trade restrictions do not overlap the Kremlin’s profits from the sale of energy, they do not restrain the war. Conversely, decisive sanction pressure can force the aggressor to reckon with reality.

The way from dependence to influence More than three years of war, loss, victims – all this was made possible by Russia’s oil and gas income.

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Since February 2022, Russia has earned more than € 887 billion in exports of fossil fuel – and much of this money came from the European Union. Even in 2024, when the 15th Package of Sanctions, the EU paid the Kremlin of € 21.9 billion per oil and gas in various forms.

Europe has taken important steps, but has not yet blocked the main source of income of the aggressor. It is here that the weakness of sanction policy and a potential lever lies to stop the war.

Prior to a full -scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia was the main supplier of energy to the EU: more than a third of oil and gas imports came from the Russian Federation.

Since February 2022, Europe made it seemed impossible – in two years imports from the Russian Federation decreased by 85%, the share of Russian gas dropped from 35%to 7%. An embargo on Russian oil supply was introduced, a complete ban on coal imports, sanctions imposed on thousands of private and legal entities involved in the financing of aggression.

But the efforts were not complete.

Kremlin’s Energy Profits: A weakness of sanction policy Despite all the sanctions against the Russian Federation, energy remains the main donor of the Russian budget. From 30% to 50% of the Federal income of the Russian Federation are formed annually by export of oil, gas and coal, according to analysts. In 2024, these revenues amounted to about € 254 billion, according to the Center for Research in Energy and Pure Air (CREA).

Even after the EU embargo, Russia continues to supply energy resources: through third countries, using questionable schemes with petroleum products: when third countries (Turkey, India) buy Russian oil and then the EU countries buy oil products from this oil.

The challenge is the shadow fleet – over 1000 old tankers that turn off massively Transponderschange the flags of the country and carry out opaque transactions. As of 2025, the shadow fleet transports up to 70% of Russian oil, according to KSE. Much of these vessels enter the territorial waters of the EU Member States without interruption.

As a result, while the G7 states are looking for compromises, Russia finds ways to bypass sanctions and earns more than it loses.

That prevents Europe to beat stronger On paper, the EU sanction policy is striking: 17 packages of restrictions, thousands of sub -parties and companies, a ban on hundreds of goods and services.

But in reality, it often tow.

The reason is institutional inertia. To impose new sanctions, all 27 EU member states are consent. This creates the ideal conditions for locking decisions in one country – from political, economic or simply selfish considerations.

Another problem is the absence of a single sanction body to monitor compliance and punishment. Currently, responsibility for the control, implementation and punishment for violation of sanctions lies with national governments. Such heterogeneity undermines the efficiency of sanctions and creates loopholes for rollops.

However, Europe already has all the necessary tools to significantly increase the pressure on the energy base of the Russian military machine.

The white book offers five specific steps:

Above all – neutralize the shadow fleet: Prohibit access of such vessels to the EU ports, refuse them in insurance, impose sanctions against captains and companies that serve them.

The second step – Close the loopholes in oil refining and impose secondary sanctions against intermediaries: companies in Turkey, India, China, which buy and release Russian energy resources, in particular in the form of “recycled” petroleum products.

Such measures are already being used by the United States, and the EU has to join. Europe is a very important trading partner for these countries to ignore its position.

The third element – Complete ban on importing Russian LNGwhich in 2024 amounted to a record 16.5 million tonnes, said FT, citing KPler data. This step is not critical to the EU energy balance, but is crucial for reducing the Kremlin’s military budget. France and Belgium are opposed to the Russian LNG importers, in particular.

These volumes can be replaced by SCR supplies Apple gas from Qatar, USA or Africa. The task is also facilitated by the fact that Europe in general actively reduces gas consumption due to energy efficiency and electrification, as well as increases the capacity of renewable energy.

These steps are not just a list of wishes. It is a specific roadmap that allows you to make a sanction policy consistent, large -scale and really effective. Now it all depends on the political will and the ability of Europe to act as a whole.

The EU has already proven that it is able to act boldly and decisively. But now a new level of leadership is needed – not careful but strategic. Sanctions are not just about Ukraine. It is about the safety of Europe itself, about the future of international order, where aggression has no rewards.

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