EU Considers New Sanctions to Target Russia’s Shadow Tanker Fleet
The European Union is considering new sanctions against Russia's “shadow fleet” of oil tankers.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Bloomberg.
EU foreign ministers will discuss further restrictive measures against those who facilitate the activities of Russian tankers circumventing the bloc's sanctions at a meeting in Brussels.
There are plans to intensify cooperation with the states that register these vessels, as well as to involve port and coastal countries and organizations that support their operations. Some states have already agreed to deregister the vessels following diplomatic consultations.
Senior EU officials, including Kaja Kallas, emphasize that the activities of the “shadow fleet” directly finance Russia's aggression against Ukraine and are considered a serious interference in the bloc's affairs.
Ministers will also consider mechanisms for quickly updating the “blacklist” of such vessels in order to restrict their activities in real time.
“That could be a way forward,” said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
At the same time, funding issues for Ukraine will also be discussed. Belgium opposes the use of frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia. That is why there are currently two alternative mechanisms, namely EU grants or loans. Debates on these decisions are ongoing, but it is unlikely that they will be finalized before March 2026, when Ukraine's cash will run out.
Ministers will also consider the threat of hybrid attacks in Europe, including sabotage on railways in Poland and a series of drone incursions on NATO's eastern flank, which, according to the authorities, are being carried out by Russia.
The shadow fleet is a group of Russian oil tankers operating outside the direct control of international sanctions, changing their registration, routes, and documents to circumvent restrictions. Its main purpose is to ensure oil sales and revenues to finance Russia's war in Ukraine, often through opaque schemes and the use of neutral or “friendly” ports.
Experts note that existing sanctions do not completely block the Kremlin's war financing flows and stress the need to close these “bypass” routes. For example, despite an official ban on Russian oil imports, Australia continues to receive millions of tons of fuel made from Russian raw materials through intermediary oil refining hubs in Asia, particularly Singapore.
As The Gaze reported earlier, China is quietly expanding a shadow fleet of tankers to keep importing Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) under U.S. sanctions.
Read also on The Gaze: Russia’s Shadow Fleet Grows to One in Six Tankers Worldwide – NYT