Several European countries discussed a plan to seize Russian tankers under sanctions
14.02.2026 - 14:00
Britain, the Nordics and the Baltics are considering a joint action plan to seize tankers belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet.”
British Defense Secretary John Healy met with his Baltic and Nordic counterparts to discuss the tanker seizure, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.
The talks by the Joint Expeditionary Force, a group of 10 nations that share a common commitment to security in the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea, were held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said that “countries need to be more proactive.”
“The message is that countries that flag ships belonging to the shadow fleet need to be aware that other countries may take appropriate action,” Pevkur said, adding that further discussions were needed before any decision was made.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, in a separate interview, said some participants in the discussion remained cautious due to “fear of escalation.”
The sources said it was unclear at this time how much the US would be involved in the British-led initiative. Some coordination is expected.
It was previously reported that three of the “shadow fleet” tankers were sent for disposal only in February.
