ROME, April 16. /TASS/. Italy has ordered to ban Russian ships from its ports starting from Sunday, April 17, in accordance with the sanctions imposed by the European Union, ANSA said on Saturday, citing the circular from the General Command of the Port Authorities.
The news agency reported that along with the Russian-flagged vessels, the ban will also cover the ships that have been reflagged after February 24. The vessels moored at the Italian ports should depart immediately after "completing their commercial activities," the agency points out.
In the fifth package of sanctions on Russia, the EU banned European companies from buying coal and oil shale from Russia, but postponed the measure until August 2022. It also banned road haulage operated by Russian and Belarusian companies via its territory and closed ports to Russian ships.
On February 24 Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a special military operation in Ukraine following a request for help from the leaders of two Donbass republics. He stressed that Moscow had no plans for an occupation of Ukrainian territories, its sole aim being the country’s demilitarization and denazification.