Macron Says Detention of ‘Shadow’ Tanker Signals New Plan to Pressure Russia
France’s detention of a tanker suspected of operating for Russia‘s “shadow fleet” is part of a new European strategy to block revenue funding Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron said.
Macron added that it was yet to be determined whether the vessel had been involved in drone incursions in Denmark last week, which shut Danish airports close to the route that the ship was sailing on from the Baltic to the North Sea. French Navy commandos raided the Boracay on Saturday off western France. The vessel was already under EU and British sanctions for suspected participation in Russian oil exports.
Investigation Underway
The prosecutor’s office in the French port of Brest is handling an investigation into the vessel after its crew provided what French authorities described as inconsistent information about its nationality. The ship’s captain, a Chinese national, is being prosecuted for failure to comply, and his hearing is scheduled for February 23, Brest Prosecutor Stephane Kellenberger said.
Russia Denies Involvement
Denmark has called the drone incursions a hybrid attack and suggested Russia may have been responsible although it has not definitively ascribed blame. Moscow has denied involvement. The Kremlin said that France’s detention of the vessel was “hysteria” that could create problems for global energy transportation routes.
EU and NATO to Step Up Pressure
Macron, speaking at an EU event in Copenhagen, said he could not rule out a connection between the vessel and the drone incursions, but so far lacked proof. The tanker raid was part of a wider plan to take tougher actions to limit Russia‘s oil sales and press for an end to the war in Ukraine, he said. “We want to increase pressure on Russia to convince it to return to the negotiating table,” he said.
Shadow Fleet Estimated at 800-1000 Vessels
NATO members will in coming days coalesce around more concrete measures to step up their campaign against Russia‘s “shadow fleet”, which Macron estimated at 800-1000 vessels. Russia is accused of using a collection of ageing tankers to circumvent sanctions and keep its oil flowing to remaining customers.
Boracay‘s Route and Cargo
According to data from MarineTraffic, the ship passed around 50 nautical miles (90 km) south of Copenhagen when drone activity forced the closure of the Danish capital’s airport last week, and was later off Denmark’s western coast when drones were reported flying near several airports in that area. The Boracay loaded 100,000 tonnes of Urals oil sourced by Russian state company Rosneft from the Russian port of Primorsk, near Finland, on September 20, according to two traders familiar with the shipping data. The vessel was destined for India‘s Vadinar port, home to a refinery owned by India‘s Nayara Energy.
Original Article: France’s Macron says detention of ‘shadow’ tanker signals new plan to pressure Russia — Co