The United Kingdom and European Union on Tuesday announced a new wave of coordinated sanctions on Russia, targeting its shadow oil fleet and military-linked entities, after a call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to produce a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine.
The sanctions came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of stalling peace efforts. Russia is “trying to buy time in order to continue its war and occupation," Zelenskyy said Tuesday, adding that Putin had refused to support a 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposal that Ukraine had already endorsed.
The UK's latest sanctions package targets over 100 entities, including individuals and institutions "supporting Russia's military machine, energy exports and information war," as well as financial systems aiding the Kremlin's war operations. "Putin's latest strikes once again show his true colors as a warmonger," UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated. "We urge him to agree a full, unconditional ceasefire right away so there can be talks on a just and lasting peace."
The EU, meanwhile, sanctioned 189 vessels linked to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet"-a group of aging, dubiously-registered tankers used to circumvent oil export sanctions imposed after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. "The longer Russia wages war, the tougher our response," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said, warning of additional measures in the pipeline.
The shadow fleet, estimated at over 400 ships by analysts at S&P Global and the Kyiv School of Economics, has been essential in helping Russia continue oil exports under the radar of Western embargoes. Some of these vessels have been suspected in sabotage efforts, including damage to undersea power cables in the Baltic Sea. Finnish police in December seized the Eagle S tanker for allegedly dragging anchor and damaging Estonia's Estlink 2 electricity cable.
The EU also imposed asset freezes and travel bans on Russian officials and firms that facilitate shadow fleet activity, including those based in Turkey, the UAE, and Hong Kong. The UK added 18 Russian-linked tankers to its own blacklist and placed restrictions on companies tied to the production and supply chain of Iskander missiles-many of which have struck civilian areas in Ukraine.
The new penalties come after President Trump's call with Putin on Monday failed to result in any significant diplomatic breakthrough. While Trump described the conversation as "excellent," European leaders were reportedly alarmed by his apparent satisfaction with Putin's unchanged stance. According to Axios, officials from Germany, France, Italy, Finland, and the European Commission who later spoke with Zelenskyy were "surprised" by Trump's portrayal of the call.
Trump had initially pressed for an immediate ceasefire but later appeared to concede that the terms of peace talks would be left solely to Kyiv and Moscow. "The conditions will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of," Trump said following the call. He also hinted at disengagement, saying he was "just going to back away" after becoming "weary and frustrated."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that there was "no timeline" for finalizing a memorandum on peace talks and reinforced Russia's preconditions. He stated that "everyone wants to do this as quickly as possible, but of course the devil is in the details."
Zelenskyy confirmed Moscow's demands included Ukraine's withdrawal from five regions-some not even occupied by Russian forces. "It's our land, we won't withdraw our troops from our territory... it means that they don't want peace," he said.
Russia's Foreign Ministry dismissed the sanctions and accused Europe of blocking dialogue. "Russia never responds to ultimatums," the ministry said in a statement.
Western allies have imposed multiple rounds of sanctions since February 24, 2022. To date, the EU alone has targeted more than 2,400 individuals and entities linked to the Russian state, with emphasis now shifting to the enforcement of maritime and energy-related restrictions as the war drags into its third year.
