'Transit deal' seems to be Trump's favorite... Macron announces capture of Russian shadow fleet

The French Navy has captured a so-called 'shadow fleet' oil tanker in the Indian Ocean that appears to have been used to evade Russian oil sanctions.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on the 12th (local time) on

“This vessel is suspected of operating under a false flag and engaging in illegal fuel transport activities,” President Macron said. “This action, taken in accordance with international maritime law, demonstrates our determination to uphold the rule of law and fight against illicit trafficking wherever it occurs.”

He added, "France has a firm commitment to fight against the so-called 'shadow fleet' wherever it is in the world."

President Macron also released a 7-second video showing the operation.

The 'Shadow Fleet' refers to ships that secretly operate by changing nationality and name to avoid Western oil export sanctions after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

AFP reported that the captured 'DF Peak' was operating under the flag of Benin, a West African country. This ship is one of about 700 ships subject to sanctions by the European Union (EU), and was found to have operated under the name 'Kaliningrad' until 2024.

According to the latest guidelines, EU member states can confiscate and sell cargo, including oil, from vessels that have been seized in violation of sanctions.

Russia is strongly opposing these Western measures. Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the seizure of ships by European countries as “piracy and robbery.”

France's capture operation was carried out at a time when concerns were growing in Europe after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had reached an agreement with President Putin to supply Russian diesel on a large scale to the U.S. and global markets.

Ahead of the midterm elections in November, President Trump has taken steps to stabilize energy prices by partially lifting sanctions against Russia in order to alleviate the worsening public sentiment caused by high oil prices.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the agreement as a "gift" from President Trump to Putin, to which President Trump responded by saying, "It's time for Ukraine to have a new president."

The EU plans to continue strengthening sanctions against Russia regardless of the United States' actions.

Kaya Callas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, took aim at President Trump on this day and urged him to impose new sanctions on Russia rather than pursue a diesel import contract with Russia.