The European Commission is preparing to target several independent Chinese refineries in its forthcoming sanctions package against Russia, Reuters reported, citing unnamed EU officials.
The proposed sanctions, which may be unveiled as soon as Friday following consultations in Washington, mark a significant escalation in the bloc’s enforcement approach, the news agency said. Rather than focusing solely on obscure intermediaries and shell companies, the EU is increasingly turning its attention to established foreign entities that may be helping Russia bypass sanctions.
The potential inclusion of Chinese refineries stems from concerns that they may have purchased Russian oil via the so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of tankers used to move sanctioned crude with limited transparency. While officials did not name specific companies, they confirmed that these Chinese firms have been under EU scrutiny since the summer.
The new proposal is also expected to name financial institutions based in two Central Asian countries, Reuters reported.
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