EU reports success in blocking military-use exports to Russia via Uzbekistan and others

The European Union has succeeded in limiting the flow of sanctioned goods to Russia through several third countries, according to German broadcaster NDR, which cited a report by Germany’s Foreign Ministry.

The report was compiled following the May 20 meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which discussed the effectiveness, shortcomings, and future direction of the EU’s sanctions policy. Participants highlighted ongoing issues with enforcing export control measures and coordinating efforts to prevent their circumvention.

David O’Sullivan, the EU Special Envoy for Sanctions, emphasized the “significant” impact of the sanctions on Russia’s economy. His statement was echoed by Daniel Markić, head of the EU’s Intelligence Coordination Office.

According to them, the EU has achieved “certain successes” in stopping the export of military and dual-use goods through countries such as Armenia, India, Serbia, and Uzbekistan. However, challenges remain with Turkey, the UAE, and Kazakhstan.

China has emerged as the main route for the re-export of sanctioned goods to Russia. O’Sullivan noted that China and Hong Kong account for about 80% of the cases of export restriction violations – often involving European companies directly.

O’Sullivan also urged EU countries to take stronger action against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” The report mentioned his proposal to consider measures targeting ports in Turkey, India, and Malaysia frequently used by Russian tankers.

One of the main concerns raised in the report was the “complete breakdown of communication channels” with U.S. authorities. It noted that American financial intelligence agencies have not shared new data on Russian assets with European partners for several weeks.