Athens vs Brussels: How National Interests Shape EU Sanctions Policy

The European Union agreed on its 21st sanctions package against Russia on July 23, 2026, after weeks of difficult negotiations.

But the real story is not what was included. It is what Greece forced out of the package — and what that reveals about the structural limits of European decision-making.

Greece blocked the entire package for days, refusing to budge on one issue: a ban on transporting Russian liquefied natural gas to non-EU countries. The ban had been unanimously agreed upon last year and was set to take full effect on January 1, 2027. But Athens demanded an exemption, and it got one.

The exemption allows Greek shipping company Dynagas, owned by billionaire George Prokopiou, to continue transporting Russian LNG from the Yamal project in the Arctic to customers outside the EU. Contracts signed before February 2022 will remain in force, subject to annual review. New contracts are prohibited, and volumes are capped at current levels.

One EU diplomat........

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