Trump Weighs Sanctions on Russia’s Shadow Tanker Fleet Over Ukraine Truce

The Trump administration is preparing a new round of sanctions aimed at the so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers that Russia uses to move crude outside the price-cap regime, according to a Financial Times report citing people familiar with White House deliberations. Officials said the measures would be triggered if President Vladimir Putin fails to agree to a cease-fire in Ukraine by Friday. Targeting the ships, their owners, insurers and other service providers is viewed inside the administration as a rapid way to increase economic pressure while avoiding direct penalties on Russian energy buyers. The United States and its allies already restrict Russian oil sales through a $60-a-barrel price cap and previous rounds of shipping and financial sanctions. Expanding the campaign to vessels operating under opaque ownership structures would tighten enforcement and could complicate Russia’s efforts to reroute exports through third-country ports. The prospective action underscores Washington’s intention to link additional economic costs to progress on ending the 18-month war. The White House has not commented publicly on the reported plan, and the Kremlin has yet to respond.