With US-Ukraine talks set to renew in Florida, Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that Russia is growing its oil revenues by means of shadow fleets.
Printed On 22 Mar 2026
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged allies to maintain up sanctions stress on Russia’s economic system forward of a second day of talks between Ukraine and United States officers on methods to finish the more-than-four-year Russia-Ukraine warfare.
Russia’s representatives weren’t current on the talks, which opened on Saturday in Florida. They have been initially anticipated to attend the negotiations, which had been on account of happen within the United Arab Emirates, earlier than the US-Israeli war on Iran.
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The US delegation is being led by particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
In a submit on X on Sunday, Zelenskyy referred to as for more durable motion in opposition to Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet of tankers and for it to be denied oil revenues.
“Over the previous week, Russia launched practically 1,550 assault drones in opposition to Ukraine, greater than 1,260 guided aerial bombs, and two missiles. Over that very same week, as a result of easing of sanctions, Russia elevated its crude oil sales to finance its warfare,” Zelenskyy wrote.
“Revenues give Russia a way of impunity and the flexibility to proceed the warfare. That’s the reason stress should proceed, and sanctions should work. Russia’s shadow fleet should not really feel secure in European waters or wherever else,” he stated.
The Ukrainian president added that tankers that “serve the warfare funds can and should be stopped and blocked, not simply let go”.
The so-called shadow fleet is a community of vessels that proceed to export oil and gasoline regardless of Western sanctions as a result of ongoing warfare with Ukraine.
Final week, the French Navy seized an oil tanker within the Western Mediterranean, which France’s President Emmanuel Macron stated was a part of Russia’s shadow fleet, a community of vessels used to export oil regardless of Western sanctions.
The shadow fleet, which has grown following Western sanctions on Russia geared toward curbing Moscow’s oil revenues, has helped to maintain Russian oil exports flowing.
Talks proceed
The final time the Ukrainian and Russian delegations met was in February within the Swiss metropolis of Geneva, however no progress was made, as key points surrounding territory stay unresolved.
Moscow has repeatedly stated it is not going to comply with a peace deal that provides up the Ukrainian territory it has captured throughout the warfare. In distinction, Kyiv has stated it is not going to comply with a deal that doesn’t result in the return of its territory.
Parts of the peace plan being promoted by the US embody a presidential election in Ukraine, alongside territorial concessions.
Zelenskyy, whose time period has already expired, is beneath renewed stress from Trump to carry a vote as Washington pushes Kyiv in the direction of a peace deal.
Ukrainian regulation bars wartime elections, however Zelenskyy has stated Ukraine can be prepared to carry democratic elections if the US secured a two-month ceasefire to permit time to arrange infrastructure and put safety ensures in place.
