Representatives of Russia’s "shadow" fleet preparing meeting with new administration in Washington, - Amelin
Representatives of the Coral company, which is considered to be one of the key players in the Russian shadow fleet, have been spotted in Washington. They are trying to arrange a meeting with the new presidential administration.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the founder of the Ukrainian Institute for the Future, Anatolii Amelin.
"It is allegedly about Akhmed Kerimov, the CFO of Coral. He is said to have arrived in Washington on 23 January 2025 to lobby for the continuation of the unauthorised (!) use of 2Rivers/Coral and the financing of the war in Ukraine," Amelin said.
In this situation, according to him, the lobbying company Qorvis may play a significant role. However, there is no official confirmation of its participation in the negotiations.
"What can they agree on with the new administration? And will they be able to? Why is Ukraine still ignoring Rosneft's largest trader?" the expert adds.
As a reminder, in December 2024, the UK government imposed a package of sanctions against companies and 20 vessels of the Russian shadow fleet transporting Russian oil.In particular, 2Rivers DMCC and 2Rivers PTE LTD, which operate the Russian shadow fleet, were sanctioned. The US and Ukraine have not imposed sanctions against them.
Earlier, it was noted that one of the largest transport companies assisting Russia in oil exports is Coral Energy. Some of the companies are registered in Turkey, others in India. The emergence of these companies is related to the complexity of oil market regulation.
The WSJ reported that Etibar Eyub of Coral Energy in Moscow and Tahir Garayev in Dubai run most of the shadow fleet of at least 100 vessels that make up most of "Rosneft's" contribution to oil revenues for the war against Ukraine.
Earlier, Anatolii Amelin stressed that Ukraine is in no hurry to impose sanctions against the "shadow fleet" and, despite the statements of government officials, still remains on the sidelines of this process.
"Do you think Ukrainian officials are also in on the action? While we are at war, losing our best people every day, Ukraine (as a state) ignores the existence of the shadow fleet, neither sanctions nor criminal cases for terrorist financing are launched.
Unlike the British," Amelin stressed.
As reported, the European Union is preparing sanctions against the Russian "shadow fleet" after the damage to submarine cables in the Baltic Sea.
