Washington, Dec 19 (NationPress) In a significant bipartisan move, two prominent US senators have put forth a resolution urging the Trump administration to take decisive action against vessels involved in the transport of sanctioned Russian oil. They argue that this so-called “shadow fleet” is not only financing Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine but also poses a threat to US national security.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut emphasized that the resolution aims at targeting ships that circumvent sanctions, allowing Russia to sustain its military activities via oil profits.

As the world’s third-largest oil producer, Russia continues to export discounted crude oil despite the imposition of Western sanctions, leading to what the lawmakers describe as significant financial resources for President Vladimir Putin’s military efforts. They noted that the shadow fleet is responsible for between 60 and 80 percent of Russia’s illicit oil exports recently.

“Without a shadow fleet of oil tankers willing to illegally transport cheap sanctioned Russian oil, Putin’s war machine would grind to a halt. Seize the ships. Help stop the war,” Graham stated.

Blumenthal referred to the resolution as “an urgent call for action,” insisting that the administration must seize these tankers to halt the sales and shipments of oil that fuel Putin’s military aggression.

“Putin’s brutality in Ukraine could be curtailed by intercepting outlaw vessels from transporting cheap Russian oil to nations like China and India, which support Putin’s economy,” he mentioned. “The Administration must act swiftly and lead a coordinated effort to seize these unlawful tankers and end Putin’s devastating onslaught.”

The resolution denounces the use of shadow fleet vessels for transporting sanctioned oil from Russia and perceives such actions as detrimental to US national security interests and sanctions enforcement. It calls for the Trump administration to seize ships involved in transporting sanctioned Russian oil and recognizes these seizures as “a lawful and appropriate measure” to counter Russia’s sanctions evasion and illicit war funding.

Additionally, the measure encourages US allies and partners to undertake similar actions against shadow fleet vessels.

The resolution highlights that the Russian shadow fleet consists of at least 561 ships and references recent US actions in seizing vessels implicated in transporting sanctioned oil from other nations, including Iran.