Zelensky Urges EU to Confiscate Russian Oil and Block Shadow Fleet Ships

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday urged European countries to take stronger measures against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” calling for legislation to block its ships from European waters and to confiscate Russian oil. Speaking in a video message to leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) meeting in Helsinki, Zelensky emphasized the need for coordinated action to curb Moscow’s influence in Europe.

“We need joint action to create strong laws in Europe that allow countries to block Russian tankers and confiscate the oil,” Zelensky said. He described these measures as a “real tool” to prevent Russia from using its energy resources to pressure European nations. The JEF is a UK-led alliance consisting of ten Northern European countries committed to regional security cooperation.

Zelensky also called on European countries to implement such decisions at home and to encourage others to follow suit. He praised Denmark, Sweden, and France for recently seizing ships suspected of being part of the shadow fleet, noting that their enforcement actions showed it was both possible and effective to hold these vessels accountable.

The shadow fleet is composed of aging Russian ships often in poor condition, operating without proper insurance and under opaque ownership structures. These vessels have been used to circumvent Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Recent examples include the French navy seizing a third shadow fleet tanker in the Mediterranean and Swedish authorities detaining the Sea Owl I tanker in March for falsifying documents and violating maritime regulations.

The United Kingdom recently announced that its military can now board and seize shadow fleet ships entering UK territorial waters. European Union sanctions currently target approximately 598 vessels suspected of belonging to this fleet, highlighting the growing international effort to restrict Russia’s oil exports and limit its ability to influence European energy markets.

source: punch