The EU's ban on seaborne Russian oil is likely to be shelved indefinitely.

EU sources have stated that the probability of implementing a full ban on maritime services for Russian crude oil in the short term has dropped significantly, and this sanction measure may fall into an indefinite state of suspension. At this stage, EU member states have not yet reached a unified consensus on the implementation of the ban: the European Commission, as well as Baltic and Nordic countries, continue to advocate for the introduction of a ban on maritime services for Russian crude oil, while Greece and Malta, which possess Europe's core shipping industries, maintain a prudent stance on the implementation of the ban due to considerations of their national industry interests, becoming a significant obstacle.

In addition, changes in the global energy fundamentals have further delayed the pace of policy implementation. Disturbed by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, international crude oil prices continue to rise. To offset the supply risks posed by the geopolitics of the Strait of Hormuz, the United States has granted sanctions waivers related to Russian oil for the third time. Constrained by the external environment, even though the EU officially stated that it remains committed to the tone of sanctions against Russia, the previously planned phased ban on Russian oil has been forced to be postponed. Under the resonance of multiple factors, the room for the implementation of new regulations to comprehensively restrict maritime services for Russian crude oil continues to narrow.