Due to Washington’s Refusal, Russia’s “Shadow Fleet” Remains Unchecked

Since taking office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has pursued a conciliatory approach toward Russia.

According to Bloomberg, citing informed sources, the United States has rejected Canada’s proposal within the G7 to establish a task force to track what is known as Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers.

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These sources told Bloomberg that Washington aims to toughen its stance on China while easing its rhetoric toward Russia in the G7’s joint statement on freedom of navigation. Canada, which currently holds the G7 presidency, is set to host a meeting of foreign ministers next week.

The agency, which claims to have reviewed a draft of the G7 statement, reported that the U.S. has also pushed for the removal of the word “sanctions” and for the modification of phrases that hold Russia responsible for the conflict in Ukraine.

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At the same time, Washington has insisted on explicitly criticizing China regarding maritime navigation, accusing it of “endangering lives” through its maneuvers in the South China Sea.

It is important to note that G7 joint statements can only be issued once a consensus on the text is reached, and ongoing discussions may lead to significant revisions before the meeting.

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Western nations had previously imposed sanctions on what they refer to as Russia’s “shadow fleet“—ships believed to be transporting Russian oil for sale in circumvention of sanctions imposed on Moscow since 2022 in response to its military operation in Ukraine.

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