Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged European countries to adopt laws blocking Russian “shadow fleet” ships and to confiscate Russian oil. Speaking in a video to Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) leaders in Helsinki, he said coordinated action is needed to curb Moscow’s pressure on Europe. His appeal highlights ongoing efforts to enforce sanctions against Russia amid its war in Ukraine.
Zelensky called for strong legislation across Europe to prevent Russian tankers from sailing in territorial waters and to seize their oil. He emphasized that such measures would weaken Russia’s economic leverage and limit its ability to influence European markets.
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He also praised Denmark, Sweden, and France for recently seizing ships suspected of operating in the shadow fleet. Zelensky described these actions as proof that sanctions enforcement is both feasible and effective, urging other European nations to follow suit.
The so-called shadow fleet consists of vessels used by Russia to bypass Western sanctions since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Many of these ships are old, poorly insured, and registered under opaque ownership, making enforcement challenging.
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Recent enforcement includes France seizing a third shadow fleet tanker in the Mediterranean, Sweden detaining the Sea Owl I tanker in March, and the UK allowing military forces to board sanctioned ships in its waters. Currently, 598 vessels are targeted under EU sanctions.