French FM urges tough sanctions on Russia’s “shadow fleet”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has called for the next package of sanctions against Russia to include tough measures targeting the so-called “shadow fleet.” 

He made the remarks on January 29 ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, according to European Pravda's correspondent in Brussels.

“Repeated strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure show that Vladimir Putin is still not ready to engage in sincere negotiations that would lead to a ceasefire and lasting peace. That is why we continue to work to ensure that the 20th package of sanctions against Russia is as strong as the 18th and 19th, with particularly strict measures… against the shadow fleet,” Barrot said.

He expects the 20th package to include a “ban on any maritime services to halt the movement of shadow fleet vessels.”

On January 28, French President Emmanuel Macron said that new EU sanctions would continue efforts to restrict the activities of Russia's “shadow fleet.”

On January 22, France and the UK detained the tanker Grinch near the coast of Spain after checking documents that confirmed suspicions about the ship's false flag.

By Khagan Isayev