The United Kingdom announced on Tuesday December 17 that it was taking sanctions against new ships in this fleet made up of undeclared Russian tankers or under foreign flags, which allows Moscow to export its oil by circumventing Western sanctions.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of the summit of the expeditionary force, a military cooperation initiated by the British, which had at the heart of the debates aid to Ukraine and its energy system. London has declared that it will take sanctions against 20 additional ships of the « ghost fleet » which allows Russia to export its oil bypassing Western restrictions. In total, more than 100 vessels are now sanctioned by the United Kingdom, which has also taken measures against two entities of the energy company 2Rivers, “ pillar of the oil trade » with Moscow.
To get around the restrictions, Russia uses this fleet made up of often aging and operated under foreign flag by dubious owners, without adequate insurance. The Russians thus circumvent the sanctions imposed on oil and continue to obtain foreign currency to continue the war in Ukraine. “ These sanctions will increase pressure on Putin’s already seized war economy “, said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a press release.
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