EU seeks maritime declaration to inspect Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’

20/10/2025 6:21

The European Union’s diplomatic arm, the EEAS, is urging member states to back a maritime declaration that would allow EU nations working with flag states to arrange inspections on Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, an EEAS document shows.



Beefing up inspection rights is the latest EU proposal aimed at curbing Russian oil and gas revenue being used by Moscow to finance the Ukraine war. EU foreign ministers are due to meet on Oct 20 to discuss new measures against Russia, among other topics.



In early October, the Group of Seven industrialised economies agreed to work jointly towards this goal and target countries that help Moscow circumvent sanctions as well as those that have increased Russian oil imports.