The EU pointed out the lack of resources to intercept tankers in the framework of sanctions against the Russian Federation.

The European Union (EU) does not have enough planes, ships and other resources to launch a mission to intercept tankers as part of anti-Russian sanctions. This was announced on May 15 by the head of the EU Military Committee, Robert Briger, at a briefing following a meeting of the heads of the general staffs of the union countries.

"We have not yet received the political task of launching such a mission, but if such a task is set, we need to have the necessary resources. When I look at the three ongoing EU maritime missions, <...> I see that, frankly speaking, we do not have sufficient resources for this," he said at an event that was broadcast on the website of the EU press service.

Briger noted that equipment for such a mission must be "assembled in advance" throughout the EU. According to him, "five to ten" ships are needed to complete this task.

Limited vision: what has the European Union included in the 17th package of sanctions

Even politicians from the countries of the association found it relatively weak.

On May 14, the head of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, announced that the 17th package of anti-Russian sanctions included 189 tankers that allegedly transport Russian oil under the flags of various states. Blacklisted tankers will be banned from entering EU ports.

On the same day, NATO aircraft and the Estonian Navy attempted to seize a civilian JAGUAR ship in neutral waters, bound for Primorsk under the flag of Gabon. There were 21 people on board the ship — citizens of Russia, India and Myanmar.