The European Union has issued a stern warning to Israel, stating it is prepared to impose sanctions on any individuals or entities facilitating the trade of Ukrainian grain stolen by Russian forces in occupied territories. This follows the arrival of a Russian shadow fleet vessel, the Panama-flagged Panormitis, at the port of Haifa, reportedly carrying over 6,200 tonnes of wheat and 19,000 tonnes of barley.
A European Commission spokesperson told Euronews: "The EU has taken note of the reports that a Russian shadow fleet vessel carrying stolen Ukrainian grain has been allowed to unload at Haifa port in Israel, despite previous contacts of Ukraine with Israeli authorities on the subject." The spokesperson added: "We condemn all actions that help fund Russia's illegal war effort and circumvent EU sanctions, and remain ready to target such actions by listing individuals and entities in third countries if necessary."
Diplomatic Tensions Escalate
The incident has sharply escalated tensions between Kyiv and Jerusalem. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Israel to refuse the vessel and announced that his government will begin preparing "relevant sanctions" in coordination with European allies against those "attempting to profit from this criminal scheme." Kyiv has previously asked Brussels to deploy all available tools, including Frontex, the EU's border agency, to disrupt Moscow's global sales of plundered grain.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar responded by stating that the Panormitis would be "examined" and that national authorities would "act in accordance with the law." However, a shipment of stolen Ukrainian grain was allowed to proceed earlier this month, raising concerns in Brussels and Kyiv about Israel's commitment to enforcing sanctions.
The EU's ability to impose sanctions requires unanimity among its 27 member states. While several Russian individuals have already been blacklisted for their role in seizing Ukrainian grain, and the bloc agreed in 2024 to impose tariffs on grain products from Russia and Belarus, securing consensus on measures involving Israel has proven difficult due to sharp divisions among member states.
This development comes at a particularly fraught moment in EU-Israel relations, against the backdrop of the ongoing war in the Middle East. The Israeli offensive in Lebanon, currently paused under a fragile ceasefire, has revived debates about suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia have been among those calling for punitive action in response to deadly strikes on Lebanese cities, while Germany and Italy remain hesitant—their support would be crucial for the qualified majority needed to suspend the pact.
Furthermore, Israel's recent legislative move to introduce a law applying the death penalty targeted at Palestinians has raised questions about whether the country is abiding by Article 2 of the association agreement, which sets binding obligations to respect human rights. The EU's warning over the stolen grain adds another layer to these already strained ties.
For more on the broader context of EU-Israel relations, see Sánchez Warns EU's Israel Inaction Undermines Ukraine Credibility. The incident also echoes earlier concerns about Russian sanctions evasion, as highlighted in German Officials Warn of Russian-Linked Signal Phishing Campaign Targeting Politicians.
