Germany calls for stronger action against Russia's shadow fleet

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called for stronger action against Russia's shadow fleet.

As reported by German TV news service Tagesschau, during his visit to Latvia, Wadephul spoke about the threat posed by Russia's shadow fleet and the need to tighten sanctions against it.

Wadephul said that hardly any other EU region was so heavily affected by hybrid actions organised by the Kremlin and that there was no time to hesitate – either in protecting critical infrastructure or in imposing sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet – adding that Germany stood firmly with Latvia and the Baltic states.

The German foreign minister noted that EU sanctions against vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet and those behind them are already in place.

However, he stressed that much greater effectiveness is needed, as well as far more intensive cooperation between countries around the Baltic Sea.

He also said there must be scope to take action against vessels with unclear flag status when it is not clear in which country tankers are registered.

"We must now use all the options provided by maritime law to stop such vessels," he added.

Last autumn, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that Russia was intensifying hybrid attacks against European states to test their resilience, including in the Baltic Sea.

It was also reported earlier that Finland's Border Guard, together with other Baltic Sea states and the European Commission, is establishing a maritime surveillance centre to protect critical undersea infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland.