Ukraine's MFA explains why EU has yet to sanction Russia's 'shadow fleet'

Speaking to Ukrinform, Spyridonova explained why the EU has not yet imposed full sanctions on Russia's "shadow fleet."

"The EU is actively working on this. Right now, within the framework of the sanctions coalition, discussions are ongoing to synchronize the packages. Currently, the UK has the most extensive sanctions against Russia's 'shadow fleet,' followed by the U.S., and partially the EU and Ukraine. We are all working together to enhance our cooperation in this area," she said.

Spyrydonova said that the EU is taking significant steps to finalize a new sanctions package, with Baltic and Northern European countries leading the charge.

She said that these nations are directly affected by the consequences of Russian actions -- such as the sabotage of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. "That is why we are primarily working with Northern European and Baltic countries, as well as the UK, to ensure that the sanctions are synchronized and inflict maximum damage on Russia," she said.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Moscow has redirected oil and fuel exports from Europe to Asia in response to Western sanctions on its energy sector. However, Russian companies have circumvented restrictions by using their own fleet of oil tankers and insurance companies, bypassing Western maritime regulations.

Hundreds of Russian vessels and oil traders have avoided strict U.S. restrictions as the Joe Biden administration tried to balance tightening sanctions with preventing a global surge in oil prices.

On February 6, 2025, Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated in Brussels that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) currently does not allow the detention or inspection of Russia's "shadow fleet," even when these vessels are engaged in malicious activities against critical infrastructure, such as communication and energy cables.

As a result, EU countries are now exploring legal mechanisms to hold captains of violating vessels accountable and impose new sanctions targeting both Russia's "shadow fleet" vessels and their captains.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has called Russia's "shadow fleet" a global ecological threat, arguing that its sole purpose is to sustain Russia's ability to wage war against Ukraine. He said that this fleet must be stopped to halt Russia's attacks and threats.

On January 10, 2025, the U.S. expanded its sanctions against Russia's energy sector, targeting hundreds of "shadow fleet" tankers. The new measures blacklisted 183 Russian vessels involved in sanction evasion schemes.

Photo: Bloomberg