OREANDA-NEWS  By the end of 2023, Russia exported a total of 4-6 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the ports of the European Union (EU). The final consumers of the products were third countries outside the EU, said Tim McPhee, a representative of the European Commission (EC). His words are quoted by TASS.

At the same time, the EC representative did not disclose the cost of the above-mentioned volume of fuel. McPhee explained this by saying that such contracts are confidential. Third parties cannot access them due to the secrecy of the main provisions of such agreements, he concluded.

The closure of European ports for the transit of Russian LNG became one of the key topics at the business meeting of the EU ambassadors. As a result, the permanent representatives of the EU countries agreed on the 14th package of anti-Russian sanctions, which implies, among other things, a ban on the delivery of this type of fuel from Russia to European terminals. The new restrictions will have to be approved at the EU ministerial level.

The head of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, named a blow to the Russian energy sector as the main goal of the 14th package of sanctions. The new restrictions, she said, will complicate Russia's access to Western technologies and equipment used in this area. In addition, the next package of measures will include restrictions against Russia's tanker fleet in order to reduce its oil export potential.