Greece has opposed the adoption of the EU’s 21st sanctions package against Russia because it includes a ban on transporting Russian liquefied natural gas to third countries. The Financial Times reported this.
According to the newspaper, Athens is trying to shield the shipping company Dynagas, which belongs to Greek businessman Georgios Prokopiou. Forbes estimates the wealth of Prokopiou and his family at $4.7 billion.
FT sources say the Greek ambassador told EU counterparts directly that a ban on Russian LNG transshipment would effectively “destroy” the company.
Because of Athens’ position, approval of the new sanctions package is being delayed by at least a week, the newspaper wrote. Sanctions require the backing of all EU member states, so objections from a single capital are enough to slow the process.
FT says Dynagas operates 27 LNG carriers, including vessels built to work in Arctic waters near the Yamal LNG plant. Since the start of 2025, the company has transported more than 10 million tonnes of Russian LNG on 11 ships, completing 144 voyages, according to the paper.
The proposed 21st package could also include a mechanism to lower the price cap on Russian oil, as well as sanctions targeting banks, cryptocurrency organizations, and the military industry. The EU is also discussing a softened version of a visa ban for Russian military personnel.