WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) introduced a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to seize ships carrying sanctioned Russian oil. These ships, known as “shadow fleet” vessels, are skirting sanctions and contributing to the illicit financing of the war in Ukraine.

As the world’s third-largest oil producer, Russia’s cheap oil exports have generated massive amounts of revenue that have been used to fund Vladimir Putin’s aggression against Ukraine. Over the past several months, this shadow fleet has been responsible for transporting between 60 and 80 percent of Russia’s illegal exports.

“Without a shadow fleet of oil tankers willing to illegally transport cheap sanctioned Russian oil, Putin’s war machine would grind to a halt. Seize the ships. Help stop the war,” said Graham.

“Our bipartisan resolution is an urgent call for action—the Trump Administration must take steps to seize tankers in Russia’s shadow fleet to stop the sales and shipments of oil that fuel Putin’s war machine,” said Blumenthal. “Putin’s slaughter in Ukraine could be stymied by stopping outlaw vessels from carrying cheap Russian oil to China, India, and others who prop up Putin’s economy. The Administration must act without delay and lead coordinated action to seize these illicit tankers and end Putin’s murderous assault.”

The Shadow Fleet Vessel Resolution:

• Condemns the use of shadow fleet vessels to transport sanctioned oil from the Russian Federation and views the transport of such oil as conduct that undermines United States national security interests and sanctions regimes
• Urges the Trump Administration to seize shadow fleet vessels transporting sanctioned oil from the Russian Federation
• Recognizes that seizing shadow fleet vessels engaged in such transport is a lawful and appropriate measure to take against the Russian Federation’s evasion of sanctions and illicit financing of its war in Ukraine
• Calls on allies and partners to also seize shadow fleet vessels transporting sanctioned oil from the Russian Federation

Read the full text of the resolution HERE.

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