UK Prime Minister resolved to challenge Russian shadow fleet sustaining its war in Ukraine

Zelenskyy and Starmer at 10 Downing Street on July 19. Photo: video screenshot/UATV

The UK Prime Minister had come up with a plan to tackle Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of around 600 oil tankers aimed at dodging international sanctions.

He announced it on his X account on July 19.

“I won’t allow Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers, and the dirty money it generates, to flow freely through European waters and put our security at risk,” Keir Starmer wrote on X just before he welcomed Volodymyr Zelenskyy to 10, Downing Street.

Previously, Bloomberg reported that 44 European states had endorsed Starmer’s plan at a meeting of the European Political Community, citing an official statement by the Government.

“The shadow fleet is made up of around 600 vessels and represents approximately 10% of the global “wet cargo” fleet. It carries approximately 1.7 million barrels of oil per day, generating significant funds to fuel Russia’s war machine. Some of the ships are also alleged to double as Russian listening stations, while others are believed to be transporting weaponry to Russia,” reads the press release on the website, published on July 18.

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