Ukraine and the EU are preparing sanctions against Russia's shadow grain fleet
Ukraine and the European Union plan to intensify sanctions against Russia’s so-called “shadow grain fleet,” which is used for the illegal trade of Ukrainian grain.
This was stated by Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgiy Tykhyi.
According to him, sanctions should target everyone involved in these schemes—from companies and their owners to the captains of ships participating in the transport of stolen grain.
Tykhyi noted that, in addition to the “shadow oil fleet,” there is a similar scheme involving grain. In particular, complex logistical operations are used, such as “port-to-port” transshipments in the Black Sea.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Ukraine is already coordinating its actions with the EU and, in fact, aligns its foreign policy with that of the EU 99% of the time.
According to the spokesperson, increased international coordination is expected in the near future to counter the illegal trade in Ukrainian grain, particularly involving countries that may be implicated in such operations.
The European Union may impose sanctions against individuals and companies suspected of facilitating the transport of grain exported from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to the port of Haifa (Israel).
As a reminder, the European Union has expanded sanctions against Belarus as part of a new, 20th package of restrictions targeting Russia and its allies. The decision affects Belarus’s defense sector, as well as entities that, according to the EU, support Russia’s war against Ukraine. For the first time, a Chinese organization linked to Belarusian military production has also been added to the list.
