Former Diplomat: Ban Baltic Sea 'Shadow Fleet' to Pressure Russia on Ukraine Peace

With 16 packages of sanctions, the EU is trying to economically harm Russia. Today, the foreign ministers come together and want to pass a 17th. They are once again targeting the Russian shadow fleet. By Thomas Spickhofen.

The Russian military is becoming increasingly close to the Russian shadow fleet. As Russian fighter jets now protect environmentally hazardous oil tankers in the Baltic Sea, the risk of military confrontation increases. How the game will continue will be decided in the coming weeks – when the EU and Sweden are expected to take a tough stance against Russia's shadow tankers.

Former diplomat: Ban Baltic Sea 'shadow fleet' to pressure Russia on Ukraine peace

One way to pressure Russia into properly coming to the negotiations table for a ceasefire in its ongoing war on Ukraine is to ban the activities of the so-called shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea altogether, former diplomat and international relations expert Harri Tiido said.

Oil prices have fallen to their lowest in two years. In addition, Russia is forced to sell its oil at a discount.

The EU is increasingly taking action against Vladimir Putin: new sanctions are being imposed on Russian oil tankers, arms companies and close allies of the Kremlin.

Putin's shadow fleet generates billions of dollars in revenue, but Western sanctions are increasingly hindering this. Russia's economy is suffering.