Russian Shadow Fleet in the Spotlight at Summit

The Russian shadow fleet is a hot topic as the ten countries in the UK-led defence partnership JEF meet in Helsinki.

‘The shadow fleet must be tackled more rigorously,’ says British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as the meeting begins.

Starmer points out that Finland, Sweden and Estonia have set an example by boarding or stopping vessels suspected of belonging to the Russian shadow fleet. France has also done so, and on his way into the meeting, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten says that the authorities there will step up pressure and efforts against suspected vessels that are contributing to Russia’s war efforts in one way or another.

Hunt them down

‘We must hunt them down even more,’ says Starmer, adding that many of these vessels, apart from carrying valuable cargo for Russia, are often dilapidated and pose a potential environmental disaster.

Starmer makes it clear that British authorities and the military will now intervene and stop ships from the shadow fleet if they pass through British waters.

In addition to the UK, the Baltic and Nordic countries, the Netherlands is also part of the JEF cooperation led by the UK. Ukraine has partner status and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is taking part in the meeting via a recorded video message, although he was originally due to participate via a live link.

In turmoil

‘The oil and gas market is in turmoil, but we must not let Russia exploit this,’ says Zelenskyy, calling for increased efforts against shadow vessels.

Perhaps Putin isn’t just rubbing his hands with glee, as Keir Starmer puts it.

According to the Reuters news agency, Russia has lost up to 40 per cent of its export capacity due to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries and shipping ports, including in Primorsk and Ust-Luga, near the Finnish and Estonian borders respectively within the Gulf of Finland. And the pipeline that carries oil through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia is not functioning.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson says that cooperation between the Nordic-Baltic countries, as well as the UK and the Netherlands, is very strong. At the meeting, the leaders will discuss the situation in Ukraine, the war there, and the effects of the war in Iran.

‘One of the most important things for Ukraine is financial support so that they can build a long-term defence,’ Ulf Kristersson told the media as he entered the meeting.

He believes that the Baltic Sea has perhaps never faced greater challenges in modern times than it does today.

‘On the other hand, the Baltic Sea has perhaps never been more protected than it is today, surrounded by NATO countries cooperating in a way we have never been able to do before,’ says Kristersson.

At dinner, they will discuss relations with the US.