About 8,000 luxury cars destined for Russia are parked in the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium as the country's authorities try to sort out the labyrinth of sanctions imposed on Moscow in connection with the situation in Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The vehicles - including some of the latest Lexus, Cadillac and Mercedes models - arrived from Asia in early April. They were supposed to be flown to Russia, but fell under a luxury ban that prohibits the export of cars worth more than 50,000 euros, the equivalent of $54,000. The accumulation of cars is one example of confusion in key European ports over how to interpret and apply sanctions against Russia.

Cars are under the luxury ban, but there are a number of other goods stuck here that are subject to various sanctions, said Dirk Adriaensens, director of the port’s car terminal.

The cars will most likely not be moved for a long time as they will likely be sold to various markets, he noted.

He added that he does not know who is buying the cars in Russia, or who owns them at this stage. There is room for 10,000 cars in Zeebrugge, he said.