# 'Shameless': Greece and LNG remain roadblock in new Russia sanctions

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-19 00:29 UTC · Category: World · Sources: 6 · Current Velocity: 4.29

## Executive Summary
Greece has become a focal point of tension within the EU after blocking new Russian sanctions to protect its LNG and shipping interests.

## Intelligence Brief
Greece is currently obstructing the implementation of new EU sanctions against Russia. This deadlock centers on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market and the protection of a Greek shipping company.


Despite this, the EU has recently imposed sanctions on a Russian executive and five companies linked to drones, as well as six listings related to strikes on Kyiv. Coverage from the Financial Times and Reuters emphasizes Athens' concerns that sanctions risk ceding LNG market share to rivals.


Other outlets, including Euronews and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, describe the situation as 'shameless' and characterize the resulting sanctions package as 'Swiss Cheese' due to persistent internal divisions. Future developments center on whether the EU can resolve these divisions to close the gaps in its sanctions strategy and how Greece will address the pressure regarding its shipping and energy sectors.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### Why is Greece blocking the new sanctions?
According to the Financial Times and Reuters, Greece is blocking the measures to shield a Greek shipping company and avoid ceding LNG market share to rivals.

### Have any sanctions been passed recently?
Yes. The EU has agreed to six listings related to strikes on Kyiv and imposed sanctions on five companies and one Russian executive over drones.

### How is the EU's current sanctions approach being described?
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty describes the sanctions package as 'Swiss Cheese,' indicating persistent divisions within the union.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Russian, Russia, Greece, Greek, LNG, Athens, Shameless Greece and LNG, EU's Swiss Cheese Russian Sanctions Package Exposes Persistent Divisions, Greek Sabotage of EU Sanctions

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robin J Brooks | Substack | Greek Sabotage of EU Sanctions on Russia | 2026-07-17 11:55 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMieEFVX3lxTE1NWkZ2SWtRenQ1cU5oYWhDR29SakRrTzAwZ2NtNjhSZXUwME9ZRS1vTTBlWkE0NXl5Nmd3Z0cwN085MF9wSDdlRWpORzVVQS0zS1JnWUtQSmJCRjlSRmJLMFdQR1E5WE55NkF2SVBEbjZYaTl0OENzZg?oc=5) |
| Reuters | Greece says EU sanctions against Russia risk ceding LNG market share to rivals | 2026-07-17 11:55 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixgFBVV95cUxQVzkxeFRrT2JJNTlNa0laY2xnX1dyOFMxczZDMVlFRldrMHRpWVptYkx6V2ZuaDh3TV9VQmYwbTVQVkZzeU80QVdvMENaX1VvTjNmYnBDRS1qYjNvZEZrLXpXZVRXVUUteXhHc2NHaWxpSnRJdXpqY2VoWENhOEJQeXd5UlFtdXhiMExoaS1pU0FSelVKa2hsSkJrYWZISDFVN19DY19SSGQ5aUZMbEh6ZUlPNkx6T0x5S0FVa1RQTVJmc2dxd1E?oc=5) |
| Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | EU's 'Swiss Cheese' Russian Sanctions Package Exposes Persistent Divisions | 2026-07-17 11:55 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxQZTJ3WHhXRXQ4S1hmLUhmekxxN2RkeWprNE5pZ25Wdi1ZalVBNjhPai1jYkxweUpPSGFnY2hwSUVoZExsV3MxeVdrbllFNnZQZFJwR3NRYW5GdUZSUnJsd0Q5dWgtbkhlb2FJSHZSd3JuTjVJYl94NTl5NEN4VGtCYjcxd2h5azV1YnNLV2x2ZEfSAZMBQVVfeXFMUDB6a2N3UkotQm1QNnJnYS1FU2FmSWdveFduWlMySDFNZHpmNTFTUXdoaGFnbTJfdjdIZ3BVSlpfaTFueURxTkV5ekFnV3pyLWtfdG1IeVhBRWFQS3RBM2VrTUFvOGhWeXA5bUp2ZUozanV4cmU5b3MzajMxSXFPdm01dTY0bExsTTExbTdKbFc5b1JR?oc=5) |
| Financial Times | Athens blocks new EU sanctions on Russia to shield Greek shipping company | 2026-07-17 11:55 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxOekRSVk4wYkI5VkNXWUFIR2RCbFdDSUh3dVlfNDNHSlE1MXFTN0tsZm5tOFdBeE94MDgyQldFMTRqS0JBZ08tc282X2VGX1ZYbkc2MU9rbW90djBIVlZuV0hvb2ZyVUc5QmlHcmMwczBsc1Yza3lveWVObzdXVVU2czU0M0Q?oc=5) |
| Reuters | EU imposes sanctions on Russian executive, five companies over drones | 2026-07-17 11:55 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxNWWFLMVZ6UTM4MFpsUndYZFdyQldZdHhzUUZGczVQUEVrYVhncGhSOHdwcXVvWmFGU3dqYjlxSGpyYlk5TnR0bmp1R0FOVGhwVjhTZXFHS3lydUhNbmNHSUUtb2lEeGR4OUpCQ0hiYllKZlNuMTRTWUlqS1NDYU02NUZBY1FWaG1pdk9lNGNQelAzeFlkMDZsaWRpMVZ4Uy0taXVONGFYVlJydE0?oc=5) |
| consilium.europa.eu | Russian military-industrial complex: EU agrees six listings related to deadly strikes on Kyiv | 2026-07-17 11:55 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi8gFBVV95cUxNalFEYlgwMkxuTFE5UllOOVlxUldROVR5QmxwUjVqczRzbUJuQjhxbmVycUl3TEZCT0dfMVIzTzl4a1E4b3M1cUJ5Nnk1eXR2LUFjcjVUS0M0a3AwOVo1bDZVWk55cFVaUngzOVhNM01qSEdfWWhBTkEwVmRrQ0czTzZPSG5xNG03ZlkxX2hvMGJxSnJJVmRSekhlR0dPd1F6MHU1RXhTOGFWcTZweG9zVnlKOFNCeUgweXRSTFZWdV93Nnp5eUxKZkFsMnhlUUNheWpFbVFwOVl4THNzQ0t0aGpnRXZPTV9NZ09walJBUl96QQ?oc=5) |
| Euronews.com | 'Shameless': Greece and LNG remain roadblock in new Russia sanctions | 2026-07-17 11:55 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivAFBVV95cUxQQTA5ODdRSnF0WEhBUFhGR29CcEc0dGVfenBRMkxqczl0S2V1eEducHBtWG5icEQ0N0lINnQ1ZC0yODJyY09PZk9ielBIbWlnMGRQQ09NWVowNVozZEotZmRRRmpKZFlzTGxrQWY1ZU1TQWVQOWRJREg0bkNSMl9BRGZWZmZVSmlPWTRFeDRFVlpWWXBVWkNDUXlPRExrakl0SlNLbjE5V3dVUURSY2hmeWFqbEtFZGRTSERIRw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://www.newsylist.com/trend/2026-07-19/shameless-greece-and-lng-remain-roadblock-in-new-russia-sanctions*
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