Donald Trump lists new US sanctions against the Russian Shadow Fleet

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The Donald Trump administration is studying additional sanctions on the “shadow fleet” in Russia for oil tankers if President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine by Friday.

The black list ships in the fleet will celebrate the first time that the United States has imposed sanctions aimed at Moscow since Trump returned to the White House in January.

Russia has used the shadow fleet of aging vector to a large extent to charge oil all over the world in an attempt to evade Western restrictions imposed in the wake of Moscow 2022 on a large scale 2022 Ukraine invasion. The revenues of these raw exports helped to finance the conflict.

The term “Shadow Fleet” refers to ships whose ownership is hidden and that avoids using services from Western companies. Penalties are difficult to implement against their owners, although measures targeting the same ships have proven effective.

Two people familiar with the White House deliberations said that additional US sanctions on the shadow fleet were an easy first step to impose costs on Russia. A third person close to the administration said he is considering a set of options, including sanctions on the fleet.

Joe Biden Administration added 213 raw or chemical or products to Penalties existing. Trump has stopped imposing more sanctions on Russia in an attempt to secure the settlement of negotiations to end the war.

But he became increasingly frustrated by Putin’s refusal to agree to the ceasefire, and gave the Russian leader a warning to change Tack by Friday or facing tougher sanctions.

Kevin, the administrative director of research with Clearview Energy Partners, said other US sanctions on the fleet will strengthen the recent steps of the European Union against the fleet. The bloc imposed more than 100 ships last month, thus reaching 415.

Under the terms of the penal system, companies associated with Western oil saves the sea war are prohibited above the maximum G7 fixed at $ 60 a barrel of crude. the Shadow Fleet Russia was allowed to charge oil above the cover – mainly to China and India.

In early 2024, the Biden administration officials were surprised by the realization that the inclusion of individual ships – instead of their owners or managers – proved their effectiveness, as buyers of Russian oil refrain from dealing with the ships that have been called. The European Union and the United Kingdom took this practice as a result.

The Financial Times analysis of 115 raw tankers that were punished by the United States shows that it has become less productive after that. Data from KPLER, a shipping analysis platform, reveals that ships that have been shipped a monthly average of 48 million barrels of Russian crude in the six months preceding them, but on average only 13 million barrels in the six months after that.

“To move in the shadow fleet is a clear way to make things more difficult for Russia, and to enhance the message sent by the European Union and the United Kingdom,” said Benjamin Helgnistock, head of the macroeconomic research and strategy at the Kiev College Institute for Economics.

The Kremlin has ignored a number of final dates that the US President has developed to agree to the ceasefire, and in recent weeks, its attacks on Ukraine have increased significantly.

Trump has become increasingly frustrated by his Russian counterpart, and people close to the administration said that Moscow would pay a price if it does not come to the negotiating table.

Possible measures against Moscow discussed a phone call with President Voludimir Zelinski on Tuesday. “We talked about sanctions against Russia,” said Ukraine leader. “Their economy continues to fall, and this is why Moscow aims to this possibility … This can change a lot.”

On Monday, the US President announced plans for Increased definitions on IndiaOne of the pioneering buyers of Russian oil. “They do not care about the number of people in Ukraine who are killed by the Russian war machine.”

Trump’s Trump envoy, Steve Wittouf, is expected to travel to Moscow this week, where Tas states in the Russian state on Tuesday that he is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.

“We are always happy to see the Master Witkev in Moscow. We consider these contacts very important, fundamental and useful,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The person close to the administration said that Trump will likely decide the potential costs that must be imposed on Moscow when his envoy returns.

“This depends on what it returns and is eclipsed,” the person said. “If you come back to empty -handed, without anything at all, Trump will become Basti.”

“The president was clear that there would be bitter penalties if Putin did not agree to end the war. We will not take the president on the details,” said Anna Kelly, a White House press secretary, said.

Other options for management include a tougher enforcement of current sanctions, or joining The maximum new dynamic prices of the European Union Experts said that Russian oil, which is scheduled to enter into force in early September.

Edward Fishman, researcher researcher at the Center for Global Energy Policy, said that Washington can impose secondary sanctions on banks and oil refineries in other countries that facilitate trade in Russian oil.

He added: “There is an incredible latitude now to impose difficult oil sanctions on Russia.”

A draft law presented by Senator Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumentel has gained a tariff of more than 500 percent on countries that continue to purchase Russian energy products as well as widespread support among legislators in Capitol Hill.

Trump said it was “strongly strong” given the support of the bill, although analysts have wondered whether this sharp tariff could be applied sustainable.

Participated in additional reports from Courtney Weaver in Berlin and Christopher Miller, New York