Today, 15 December, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna took part in the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, where he said that the EU’s plan to list shadow fleet vessels and the individuals and entities involved in their activities outside the formal sanctions package for the first time demonstrates the EU’s ability to act decisively at a critical moment.
“The European Union has continued work on the 20th sanctions package, but as its adoption will still take time, the plan is to list separately 41 Russian shadow fleet vessels and nine individuals and entities linked to shadow fleet operations. This is the first time the EU will list shadow fleet vessels outside a sanctions package in order to more swiftly restrict the activities of ships that generate revenue for the Russian state budget,” Tsahkna said.
The EU also expanded the sanctions regime targeting Russia’s hybrid activities, adding 12 individuals and two entities for their involvement in Russia’s ongoing hybrid operations, including foreign information manipulation and interference, as well as malicious cyberattacks against the EU and its member states.
It was further decided to broaden the scope of the Belarus sanctions regime to allow sanctions to be imposed on individuals and entities involved in hybrid activities against EU member states. The decision followed recent incursions of meteorological balloons into Lithuanian airspace.
“Just last week, Russia attacked Ukraine with more than 2,000 drones, missiles and guided aerial bombs, striking both civilian communities and energy infrastructure. Pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine must continue until Russia finally changes course and ends the war,” Tsahkna said.
“The EU’s strongest lever for increasing pressure is the use of Russia’s frozen central bank assets in Europe to support Ukraine. I expect the European Council this week to decide to grant Ukraine a reparations loan backed by these assets,” the minister said. “Using the frozen assets is the only way to ensure that Russia pays for its destruction, and it is also the best way to pave the path towards a just and lasting peace.”
According to the European Commission’s proposal for a reparations loan, Ukraine would be granted access to up to €210 billion, backed by Russian state assets immobilised in EU member states.
To further increase pressure on Russia, the foreign minister said that the EU should impose even broader tariffs on imports of Russian and Belarusian origin, and continue advancing work on establishing a special tribunal for the crime of aggression, securing the return of deported Ukrainian children, and progressing with EU enlargement.
“EU membership is the most far‑reaching security guarantee the Union can offer Ukraine,” Tsahkna said, adding that the EU must honour its commitment and take the decision to open the first negotiation cluster with Ukraine and Moldova.
At the meeting, ministers also discussed the situation in the Middle East, including Syria, as well as EU–China relations. In addition, a meeting was held with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
Foreign Minister Tsahkna also met in Brussels with European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath.
The Foreign Minister’s doorstep interview ahead of the meeting.
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