Middle Corridor under threat: Georgia pushes back against possible EU sanctions on Kulevi port

Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has raised concerns over reports that the Kulevi oil terminal on the country’s Black Sea coast could be included in a future European Union sanctions package against Russia.

If imposed, the measures would directly affect Georgia, with potential consequences for its ports, shipping and cargo operations. The proposed restrictions are expected to cover services linked to Russian energy exports passing through Kulevi.

The issue was discussed on 12 February during a meeting in Tbilisi between EU Ambassador to Georgia Pavel Herchinsky and First Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgi Zurabashvili.

According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, Zurabashvili told the EU Ambassador that speculation about sanctions targeting Kulevi is unfounded. He said no sanctioned vessels have entered the port and no cases of sanctions circumvention have been recorded there.

Affecting many ports

Georgian officials outlined the measures taken to comply with EU restrictive measures against Russia. These include monitoring cargo movements, supervising maritime traffic, identifying sanctioned entities and sharing regular updates with EU institutions. The government also said it has worked to detect activities linked to Russia’s so-called "shadow fleet".

Tbilisi stressed that the matter goes beyond a single port. The Kulevi terminal is part of the Caspian–Black Sea–Europe transport route, widely known as the Middle Corridor. The corridor connects Central Asia and the South Caucasus to European markets and has gained importance since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted northern trade routes.

In recent years, the Georgian government has prioritised positioning the country as a regional transit hub along this route. Officials said any sanctions affecting Kulevi could harm connectivity projects and weaken trade flows along a corridor that has become strategically important for both regional and European partners.

The discussion comes as the European Union continues work on its 20th sanctions package against Russia. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas recently said discussions are still ongoing, including proposals related to maritime services, and stressed that no decisions are final until member states reach agreement.

Both sides agreed to remain in contact as discussions continue.

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