Europe announces a hunt for Russia's 'shadow fleet': new steps agreed.

A group of maritime nations has agreed on further actions to counter the 'shadow fleet'. Representatives of 12 countries from the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Iceland discussed joint measures to effectively combat such attempts by Russia to circumvent international sanctions.

'Today we agreed to further strengthen our cooperation and ensure a joint and coordinated approach of our national authorities in combating Russia's shadow fleet,' the statement said.

Guidelines are planned to be developed to promote responsible behavior at sea, enhance the compliance with international law, and ensure transparency of maritime operations. If ships do not sail under a genuine flag in the Baltic and North Seas, appropriate measures will be taken in accordance with international law.

'Russia is using the 'shadow fleet' to transport oil and gas or to transport stolen Ukrainian grain,' the statement emphasized.

Recently, Volodymyr Zelensky announced a new sanctions policy against Russia, denying it participation in any construction or reconstruction works in Ukraine. As a result of discussions on the aforementioned measures, the European Union countries are preparing for a joint fight against Russia's 'shadow fleet', which is used to transport oil, gas, and other goods.