Ukrainian President Zelensky calls for EU laws to block and confiscate Russian oil from shadow fleet tankers, praising recent seizures by European nations.
HELSINKI: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged European nations to enact laws enabling them to block and confiscate Russian oil transported by so-called “shadow fleet” tankers.
He made the appeal in a video message to leaders of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force meeting in the Finnish capital.
“We need joint action to create strong laws in Europe that allow countries to block Russian tankers and confiscate the oil,” Zelensky said.
He argued this would be “a real tool to take away Russia’s ability to pressure Europe”.
The president also called on the gathered leaders to “help others in Europe move these decisions forward and implement them at home”.
Zelensky thanked Denmark, Sweden and France for recent seizures of ships suspected of belonging to the shadow fleet.
Their actions were “a clear demonstration that enforcement is not only possible but effective,” he stated.
Moscow’s shadow fleet comprises vessels used to circumvent Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s full-scale 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
These are often ageing ships in poor condition, operating without proper insurance and with opaque ownership structures.
The French navy seized a third suspected shadow fleet tanker in the Mediterranean last week.
Swedish authorities seized the Sea Owl I tanker in mid-March and arrested its captain on suspicion of document falsification and maritime regulation violations.
On Wednesday, the British government announced its military can now board and seize sanctioned shadow fleet vessels entering UK territorial waters.
Some 598 ships suspected of being part of the Russian fleet are currently under European Union sanctions.