EU 'ready' to sanction Israel over Russian vessel carrying stolen Ukrainian grain

The European Union has warned Israel that it is ready to impose sanctions on those aiding and abetting the trade of Ukrainian grain stolen by Russia in the occupied territories, after a new ship loaded with the cereal arrived in the city of Haifa.

"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," a European Commission spokesperson told Euronews.

"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," the spokesperson added.

"We have approached the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the issue."

The arrival of the Panama-flagged vessel in Haifa has escalated tensions between Ukraine and Israel. The vessel, named Panormitis and allegedly carrying over 6,200 tonnes of wheat and 19,000 tonnes of barley, has yet to unload. However, a shipment of stolen Ukrainian grain was allowed to proceed earlier this month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Israel to reject the Russian vessel and said his government would start preparing "relevant sanctions", in coordination with Europeans, against those "attempting to profit from this criminal scheme".

Kyiv previously asked Brussels to deploy "all possible instruments" to cripple Moscow's global sales of plundered grain, including using Frontex, the bloc's border control agency.

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said the Panormitis would be "examined" and national authorities would "act in accordance with the law".

EU-level sanctions require unanimity among the 27 member states, and several Russian individuals have already been blacklisted over the seizure of Ukrainian grain. In 2024, the bloc agreed to slap tariffs on grain products from Russia and Belarus to crack down on the trade of stolen merchandise.