EU prepares tough sanctions against Russian shadow fleet, German MFA says
Photo: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (Getty Images)
The EU is preparing new tough sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet, in particular, because Russia circumvents restrictions and transports oil without sanctions, reports Zeit.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced the strengthening of control over the underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea due to the threat of sabotage by the Russian shadow fleet.
He warned that Russia poses a danger to the entire region and announced new sanctions and increased patrols.
The shadow fleet means Russian tankers and cargo ships that circumvent sanctions, particularly on oil exports.
According to Wadephul, these vessels transport oil on a daily basis, which brings large revenue to the Kremlin and poses a direct threat to security in the Baltic Sea.
“It also helps Ukraine because the shadow fleet transports oil every day that Russia sells without sanctions,” he said.
The European Union is currently preparing the 17th package of sanctions against Russia, which provides for stricter restrictions on the shadow fleet.
Latvia's Foreign Minister Baiba Braže emphasized that about 84% of Russia's crude oil exports pass through the Baltic Sea via this fleet, providing more than a third of Russia's budget.
Wadephul emphasized the importance of joint actions by NATO, the EU, and neighboring countries to counter hybrid threats and protect the region's critical infrastructure.
The new measures are aimed at making it more difficult for Russia to avoid sanctions.
Russia's shadow fleet
On April 11, the Estonian Defense Forces detained the oil tanker Kiwala after it entered the Gulf of Tallinn without a flag.
As it turned out, this vessel is part of Russia's shadow fleet, which Russia uses to transport oil bypassing sanctions.
