Greece has opposed the adoption of the EU’s 21st sanctions package, which includes a ban on transporting Russian liquefied natural gas to third countries. Financial Times reported this.
According to the newspaper, Athens is seeking changes to the measure in order to protect Dynagas, a shipping company owned by Greek businessman Georgios Prokopiou. Forbes estimates the wealth of Prokopiou and his family at $4.7 billion.
Sources told the Financial Times that the Greek ambassador directly warned his EU counterparts that a ban on Russian LNG transit would effectively “destroy” the company.
Greece’s objections have already delayed approval of the new package by at least one week, the paper wrote. Adoption of the sanctions requires the backing of all EU member states. European diplomats cited by the Financial Times said other countries in the bloc had accepted losses to business interests in order to increase economic pressure on Moscow.
Dynagas operates 27 LNG carriers, including vessels built to meet safety requirements for work in Arctic ice near the Yamal LNG plant. Since the start of 2025, the company has transported more than 10 million tons of Russian LNG on 11 ships, completing 144 voyages.
The EU announced the new sanctions package in early June, but member states have not yet formally adopted it. According to previously reported details, the package also includes a mechanism to lower the price cap on Russian oil, currently set at $44.1 per barrel, as well as sanctions against banks, cryptocurrency organizations, and the military industry.
In addition, the EU is discussing a softened version of visa restrictions for Russian servicemen. The proposal would reportedly apply only to short-term visas and only to those who directly took part in the war against Ukraine.