Razom We Stand Urges Trump to Seal Russia’s Fuel Loopholes
When it comes to stopping war, it looks like the future U.S. president has a new ammo rack: a hefty list of fresh sanctions aimed straight at the Russian fossil‑fuel machine. Razom We Stand, a Ukrainian campaign group that champions peace through decisive economic measures, is calling on the incoming Trump administration to hit the brakes on Russia’s LNG exports and its mysterious fleet of tankers. They say it’s the fastest way to cut off the Kremlin’s war‑money stream and finally halt the brutal aggression against Ukraine.
Why LNG and Tankers Are the Target
Think of LNG and the shadowy tankers as the bread‑and‑butter of Russia’s war chest. Every ton of fuel sold not only fills the coffers of a nation that’s threatening its neighbors but also funds the missiles that keep raining on Ukrainian cities. Closing those loopholes means each dollar that would have gone into missile production is redirected to the U.N. and humanitarian relief instead.
Word From the Front Lines
Dr. Svitlana Romanko – Founder & Executive Director, Razom We Stand
- “Every day that loopholes in Russian energy sanctions remain open is another day we in Ukraine must suffer.”
- “The Trump administration must act decisively and quickly to close these gaps, dismantle Russia’s war chest, and show unwavering support for ending the brutality.”
- “Sanctions on Russian fossil fuels are about ending war and saving lives. Each dollar Russia earns from oil or gas is another dollar spent on missiles raining down on Ukrainian cities causing immeasurable suffering.”
- “The time for half‑measures is over. Trump should strengthen sanctions now.”
Splicing Humor into a Heavy Topic
Sure, talking about sanctions can feel like reading a financial report, but let’s bring the heat: If an oil leak were a funny joke, Russia’s fuel exports would be the punchline! The point is clear – censoring those barrels stops the “fuel for war” punchline and shifts the narrative to peace. Meanwhile, every dollar that drops into Russian hands is a ceiling fall on Ukrainian homes. So no more half‑measures: make those sanctions tighter and faster. The world, especially the folks in Ukraine, will thank you.
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Behind the Dashboards: The Sanctions Shuffle
Even with the Biden administration throwing some serious taxes on Russia’s oil giants—think 183 shadow‑fleet vessels and a new oil price cap—there are still cracks in the wall. Russia, learning tricks from the past (yes, they borrowed a page or two from Iran’s playbook), keeps draining fossil‑fuel cash, which has been pouring into a crazy 58% jump in military spending for 2024. The newest hike in arms budgets beats the Soviet era tops, and the roster of loopholes still lets Russia keep that profit flowing.
What the Shadow Fleet Is Really Doing
Shadow fleet: it’s a network of tankers shrouded in false flags and shady ownership. These bad‑boys haul Russian oil and LNG at rates that slash past the G7’s price cap, meaning Moscow can keep earning while fronts‑court sanctions look like they’re doing a graceful dance.
- Exporting the Extra Cash – With G7 struggling to keep energy prices in check, Russia’s LNG stays high.
- Yamal LNG – The Arctic giant that’s still savoring the sweet spot created by weak enforcement.
- Genuine Money – After sanctions, the revenue gap has turned into a fuel tank for tanks.
TRUMP’S To‑Do List (Maybe Already on His Radar?)
Mike Waltz is already shouting “time to tighten the net!” as the new National Security Advisor. He’s calling for real enforcement on energy sanctions and tighter controls on oil and gas sales. Good news? It looks like the wheels might be turning.
- Full‑Scale Sanctions: Tag every shadow‑fleet ship that sails oil or LNG above the cap—yes, paint the entire roastery up to the owner’s mug.
- Secondary Sanctions: Hit the buyers—think China or any other naïve buyer—who keep the ship’s requests alive.
- Ban Refined Oil imports: In any country that ships Russia’s crude‑derived goodies.
- Cut ties: Stop U.S. companies like SLB (the Schlumberger club) from handing out tech that keeps Russia’s grid humming.
Why It Matters
Every dollar that leaks out of the shadow fleet feed’s the war budget. Let’s pretend the U.S. government is a boss that needs to watch their own lunchbox. If there’s a way to choke that feed—stop the trade, lock the routes—then it’s not just about saving pennies. It’s about taking a stand—policymaking that says, “You at the top aren’t playing until we finish.”
Why stay on the sidelines when you can be the hero that stops Russia’s arm inflation? That’s the moral crossroads we face.
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