- President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged European nations to enact laws to block and confiscate Russian tankers used to bypass international sanctions.
- Speaking to the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in Helsinki, Zelensky emphasized that seizing Russian oil is a critical tool to dismantle Moscow’s economic pressure on Europe.
- The appeal follows recent successful ship seizures by Denmark, Sweden, and France, which Zelensky cited as proof that enforcement is both possible and effective.
In a powerful video address delivered on Thursday, March 26, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky intensified his diplomatic campaign against Russia’s energy exports.
Eko Hot Blog reports that addressing leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a 10-nation Northern European security alliance, Zelensky called for a unified legal framework across Europe that would allow for the direct confiscation of Russian oil and the permanent blocking of its “shadow fleet.”
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These shadow vessels, estimated to number nearly 600 under current EU sanctions, are often aging, uninsured tankers with opaque ownership structures.
They have become Moscow’s primary tool for skirting Western sanctions imposed since the 2022 invasion.
Zelensky argued that by allowing these ships to sail through European waters, countries are inadvertently permitting Russia to maintain its financial leverage.
“This should be a real tool to take away Russia’s ability to pressure Europe,” the President stated.
The push for stricter maritime laws comes as several European nations have already begun taking unilateral action.
Last week, the French navy intercepted a third shadow fleet tanker in the Mediterranean, while Swedish authorities recently arrested the captain of the Sea Owl I for document falsification.
Most notably, the British government announced on Wednesday that its military now has the authority to board and seize sanctioned ships entering UK territorial waters.
Zelensky praised these actions, urging other European leaders to implement similar “strong laws” at home to ensure Moscow can no longer profit from its “opaque” maritime operations.
