A group of European countries with access to the sea agreed at a meeting on Thursday to take further measures to counter Russia’s so-called shadow fleet. This conclusion is stated in a joint statement by these countries.
Representatives of 11 European Union countries (the Baltic states, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, France, and Sweden), as well as the United Kingdom, Norway, and Iceland, called for “joint and coordinated action to effectively counter Russia’s attempts to circumvent international sanctions.”
“Today, we agreed to further strengthen our cooperation and ensure a joint and coordinated approach by our national authorities to combat Russia’s shadow fleet,” the statement said.
Among other things, the group of European states plans to develop guidelines “to promote responsible behavior at sea, strengthen compliance with international law, and ensure transparency in maritime operations.”
“If ships do not fly their true flag in the Baltic and North Seas, we will take appropriate measures within the framework of international law,” the statement said.
Russia uses a “shadow fleet” of several hundred tankers to transport oil and gas or to transport stolen Ukrainian grain.
With the help of its “shadow fleet,” Russia circumvents sanctions to transport its oil across the globe and ensure revenues that can be used to finance its illegal war against Ukraine.
