Anna Hartz
Putin’s Secret Oil Fleet Under U.S. Scrutiny as Sanctions Pressure Mounts
The global oil trade has long been a shadowy business, but lately, that shadow has grown darker. As the war in Ukraine drags on, Russian oil is still flowing to markets around the world, quietly carried by tankers that few can trace.
These ships, often called “ghost ships,” are now drawing the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump.
A Political Chess Game
Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are locked in what many call a political chess game.
Each move carries huge stakes. Washington is determined to use every possible pressure point to bring Moscow to the negotiating table.
Staying Invisible
According to reports from Axios and Fox News, Trump has become increasingly focused on Russia’s secret network of ships that move oil to countries like China and India.
Many of these vessels turn off their tracking systems and sail under foreign flags. They also change names or ownership through shell companies to stay invisible.
A Way to Dodge Sanctions
This fleet allows Russia to dodge Western sanctions and keep its economy running.
Benjamin Jensen, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the profits from these oil exports are vital to the Kremlin. The money pays new soldiers and funds more weapons.
Putin’s Deal with India
Trump recently said India had agreed to stop buying discounted Russian oil and re-exporting it as refined products.
He admitted the change would take time but said it would happen soon. For Trump, this issue is part of a wider plan to use trade pressure to hold countries accountable.
German authorities recently seized one of these ghost ships, a tanker named Eventin, after it broke down in the Baltic Sea. The ship was carrying nearly 100,000 tons of Russian oil worth about $45 million.
The Shadow Fleet Sails On
Experts believe tackling this hidden trade will require joint action by intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and international partners. “You can’t stop oil smuggling completely,” Jensen said. “But you can make it harder and less profitable.”
For now, Putin’s secret oil fleet sails on. But with Trump watching closely, the next moves in this high-stakes game are already being planned.
This article is made and published by Anna Hartz, which may have used AI in the preparation
