Ukraine, together with the European Union, is actively discussing the composition of a new, twentieth sanctions package against the Russian Federation. As reported by the President of Ukraine’s Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, Vladyslav Vlasuk, the existing restrictions are insufficient for effectively deterring Russia, thus consultations are ongoing to strengthen the sanctions pressure.
This is reported by Finway
Increasing Pressure on Russia’s Shadow Fleet
French President Emmanuel Macron has emphasized the need to strengthen sanctions, focusing on combating the shadow fleet that facilitates the transportation of Russian oil in violation of international bans. He called for decisive action after French authorities intercepted a Russian tanker near their shores. Macron proposed blocking the supply of Russian oil by delaying shadow tankers, which he believes would significantly reduce Russia’s ability to finance its war against Ukraine.
“It is extremely important to increase pressure on the shadow fleet because it significantly reduces Russia’s ability to finance its military efforts in Ukraine. It is very important that by doing so, you disrupt the business model by detaining these vessels even for a few days or weeks, which diminishes the effectiveness of the business model. I propose working within the Coalition of the Willing, in close cooperation with NATO, on how to optimize these joint actions,”
The Scale of the Shadow Fleet and Its Impact on Russia’s Budget
According to EU estimates, the shadow fleet of the Russian Federation consists of 444 vessels. These vessels generate over 30 billion euros in revenue from oil exports for Russia. These funds, according to European experts, are used to finance 30-40% of Russia’s military operations against Ukraine.
The twentieth sanctions package from the EU is expected to be even stricter and will focus on cutting off key sources of revenue for the Russian Federation, particularly through efforts to combat shadow oil transportation schemes.