On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Europeans to organize their ranks “closely coordinated” with NATO (NATO) “to increase pressure” on the Russian ghost fleet that allows Moscow to export oil to circumvent Western sanctions.
“It is extremely important to increase pressure on the ghost fleet because this strongly reduces Russia’s ability to finance the war,” Macron said at the opening of the European Political Group in Copenhagen.
The French President suggested “working within the framework of the coalition of those who wish”, which includes countries that support Ukraine militarily “in close cooperation with NATO in order to determine the method of strengthening the effectiveness of this joint work to a maximum.
Macron stressed that the pressure on Russia can pass by intensifying inspections to ensure the commitment of oil tankers to international laws, pointing to the example of a suspicious ship, Saturday, off the French coast and the inspections that took place on board.
The French president explained that the ship “was registered under a fake flag, and was undergoing inspection in Estonia during March for the same reasons.”
Macron considered that similar operations could “undermine the economic model to finance the Russian war effort by holding ships for days or weeks and forcing them to reorganize themselves.”
According to Macron, the oil -related oil trade, which includes hundreds of ships, represents “more than 30 billion euros” from Russia’s budget, and contributes to financing “30 to 40%” of its war effort.
Regarding the drones that violate European airspace, the French president said it “can be destroyed. A point on the line.”
Macron stressed that “it is very important that there is a clear speech: the misfortunes that violate our lands are very risked, and can be destroyed, a point on the line.”
The French president added that “the basic response must be by strengthening the element of surprise and increasing strategic ambiguity” to keep Moscow in doubt about the nature of the possible response.
On Wednesday, the French President confirmed, in the context of “the doctrine of strategic ambiguity”, that any response cannot be excluded if a Russian plane again violated the European airspace, including the possibility of its shooting down.
On Thursday, for the second consecutive day, the Copenhagen Summit continued, where European leaders are gathering in the Danish capital to discuss confronting Russian marches, and about 50 European leaders, including Ukrainian President Voludimir Zellinski, participate in the meeting that focuses on the war in Ukraine and European security.
The issues that leaders will discuss how to strengthen Ukraine, put security in Europe, and ways to make the continent safer. European security discussions are also expected to address economic security and combat drug and immigration smuggling.
