The ‘Paper Tiger’ Still Has Its Shadow Fleet

Trump says Russia is in economic trouble—but there's a loophole in the West's sanctions.

The oil tanker Eagle S is seen anchored near the Kilpilahti port in Porvoo, on the Gulf of Finland, on Jan. 7. September 24, 2025, 1:14 AM Comment icon View Comments ( )

Russia’s War in Ukraine

Understanding the conflict three years on.

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U.S. President Donald Trump recently declared that he was ready to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia—if NATO countries stopped buying Russian oil. Bold as it sounds, the reality is more complicated. Only three of NATO’s 32 members—Hungary, Slovakia, and Turkey—still import Russian oil, while the European Union has committed to phasing out Russian fossil fuels by the end of 2027. Turke

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