The package also includes measures against “ghost ships” transporting Russian oil.

Negotiations between member countries produced a watered down version of proposals that aimed to tighten weaknesses in EU sanctions that still permit significant amounts of Russian hydrocarbons to be sold in the bloc.

Gas from Russian ships has been liquefied outside ports like Antwerp and then resold. That practice will now be forbidden. However, LNG processed in Russia will still be allowed to be sold.

The package stopped short of measures against dual-use products, at the behest of Germany.

The new sanctions also ban North Korean vessels from EU ports if they are carrying Russian oil.

"This hard-hitting package… will strip Russia of further energy revenues. And tackle (President Vladimir) Putin’s shadow fleet abroad,” said European Commission President Ursula Vonder Leyen, commenting on the measures.