The US "sentences" businesses that circumvent Russian oil price ceiling; What does Moscow say about the EU's new "blow"?

On November 16, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller announced that Washington had imposed restrictions on three shipping companies and three oil tankers for attempting to circumvent the price ceiling on Russian oil.

Tàu chở dầu thô RN Polaris và một tàu sân bay rời vịnh Nakhodka gần thành phố cảng Nakhodka, Nga, ngày 4/12/2022. (Nguồn: Reuters)

Crude oil tanker RN Polaris and an aircraft carrier leave Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia. (Source: Reuters)

Previously, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two companies registered in Liberia and one company registered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The tankers Ligovsky Prospekt, Kazan and NS Century were declared “blocked property”.

These three ships were transporting oil that was trading above the ceiling price, Mr. Miller noted.

* Previously, on November 15, the European Union (EU) announced that Denmark would be assigned the task of inspecting and possibly preventing Russian oil tankers from passing through its waters.

Denmark's mission comes as the West looks for more ways to ensure it meets its $60-a-barrel limit on Russian crude.

"The 12th package of EU sanctions against Russia will include actions to tighten the oil price cap, reduce the revenue the country receives from selling oil - not to us but to other countries - and fight against fraud," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.

Danish inspections of Russian tankers could be part of a new EU sanctions package, chosen largely because of its geographical location.

All Russian oil shipped via the Baltic Sea – about 60% of Moscow's total seaborne oil exports – passes through the Denmark Strait on its way to international markets.

* Also on the same day (November 15), Russia declared that all ships, including Russian ships, were free to pass through the Baltic Sea and said that any attempt to violate international law on freedom of navigation was dangerous.

“I reiterate that all ships, including Russian ships, have the right to freely pass through the Baltic Strait. Any actions contrary to this violate international law and will have very dangerous consequences,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters.

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