New Zealand announced on Thursday expanded sanctions against Russia's shadow fleet and oil industry during a meeting with the Nordic five foreign ministers.

Winston Peters, New Zealand's foreign minister, said in a press release that New Zealand sanctioned 65 more shadow fleet vessels from Belarus, Iran, and North Korea, who were involved in refining, transporting, and facilitating payments related to oil.

The shadow fleet consists of tankers transporting sanctioned cargoes out of countries like Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. They conceal their trade by using fake documents, locations and names.

Peters stated that "These actors form part of a larger network which facilitates the trade in Russian Oil, undermining efforts worldwide to curb funding for Russia's unlawful war." New Zealand's decision to target the oil supply chain is a decisive step in supporting international efforts to bring Russia back to the negotiating tables. (Reporting and editing by Daniel Wallis; Lucy Craymer)

(source: Reuters)