How Denmark Became A Locomotive Of Pressure On Russia And What To Expect From Its Presidency
- 2.07.2025, 18:41
As of July 1, Denmark officially assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union.
As of July 1, 2025, Denmark has officially assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union. For the next six months, the country will coordinate the agenda and moderate key negotiations among the 27 EU member states.
Denmark has declared its intention to move sanctions against Russia into a new phase.
The stated focus is to cut off the channels that still allow Moscow to make money from oil, gas and energy transportation, despite all the embargoes.
In the past two years, Denmark has become one of the key Nordic countries systematically reducing any channels through which Russia gets fossil revenues, writes "European Pravda".
In particular, in 2022, Copenhagen completely stopped importing Russian coal, and in 2025 joined the group of ten countries that have officially called on the EU to impose a complete ban on imports of Russian gas (LNG) and the termination of existing contracts as soon as possible.
In addition, Denmark was one of the first countries to endorse an initiative to include in the EU's 18th package of sanctions more than 200 vessels in Russia's "shadow fleet" that transport oil to bypass the G7 price ceiling, and is investing some 600 million euros in the surveillance fleet.
On the EU Council level, Denmark, together with the Baltic states, is pushing for tighter controls on ship insurance.
Finally, Denmark is a strong supporter of extending the current oil embargo and revising the Urals price cap.
"Thanks to these steps, Denmark becomes one of the main moderators of the new wave of sanctions pressure, raising the issue not only of symbolic bans, but also of real control and monitoring of oil, gas and money flows," states Razom We Stand communications specialist Maksim Gardus.
He says that the Danish presidency comes to Brussels with a clear public promise: to make sanctions not just a long list of bans, but a working tool that will really cut off Russia's financial oxygen.
Gardus adds that among the specific tasks is the final approval and launch of insurance checks for all tankers that pass through the North Sea and the Baltic. Denmark is promoting this initiative together with the Baltic States, the UK and Germany.
The logic is simple: a vessel without transparent insurance and clear cargo information will not be able to pass through the critical straits unhindered.
"This will hurt the 'shadow fleet' that now transports most of Russia's oil," the columnist believes.
He also recalls the second key point - an agreement to fully synchronize energy sanctions with partners outside the EU. This is primarily about coordination with the U.S. and the U.K. in controlling insurance and port operations.
A separate block - plans for liquefied natural gas. Denmark has already backed a ten-country appeal to the European Commission to completely ban imports of Russian liquefied natural gas.
Another priority, Gardus continues, is to block Nord Stream in the legal field.
And finally, the power component. In addition to the more than 600 million euros already earmarked for naval reinforcements and drone purchases, Denmark is launching joint patrols of straits and strategic ports with NATO partners.
The spokesperson for Razom We Stand notes that the plan aims to minimize illegal "board-to-board" oil shipments, a practice that has become one of the most common sanctions evasion schemes between 2023 and 2024.
Will Copenhagen succeed in implementing the plan? The key will be the willingness of other EU capitals to concede convenient exemptions.