Russia Protests U.S. Seizure Of Oil Tanker

Russia on Thursday condemned the United States for escalating tensions and threatening global shipping by seizing a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic.

The vessel was intercepted a day after the United States claimed it was transporting oil in violation of sanctions targeting countries such as Venezuela, Russia, and Iran.

Russia’s foreign ministry said the seizure “will only result in further military and political tensions” and expressed concern over what it called “America’s willingness to generate acute international crisis situations.”

The action follows growing frustration in the U.S. over the stalled diplomatic effort to resolve the war in Ukraine, as well as U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks that he was “not thrilled” with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

Trump also questioned Putin’s claim that Kyiv had attempted an attack on his residence.

Russia insisted the tanker was operating “in accordance with international law” and under a temporary Russian law allowing it to sail under the Russian state flag.

Russian authorities said the ship was en route to a Russian port and that its “civilian peaceful status” had been communicated repeatedly to U.S. officials.

The U.S. announced that the tanker crew could face prosecution, a move Russia described as “categorically unacceptable.”

The Russian government also dismissed Western sanctions as “illegitimate,” stating they cannot justify “the seizure of ships on the high seas.”

Russia also accused the United Kingdom, which supported the U.S. in the operation, of “long being engaged in maritime piracy.”

However, the UK government responded that it had provided “pre-planned operational support” to the American authorities.

The seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker came as part of a U.S. operation targeting vessels connected to Venezuela.

One such ship, the Panama-flagged M Sophia, was also intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard near South America’s northeast coast. Officials said the vessels were part of a “shadow fleet” used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance described the Russian-flagged vessel as “a fake tanker” attempting to evade sanctions.

Trump’s administration is also negotiating with Venezuela to control oil flows previously intended for China, seeking access to an estimated $2bn in crude.

China condemned the U.S. operation as “bullying,” while Venezuela reported multiple casualties from the raid that captured President Nicolás Maduro.

Maduro, now detained in the U.S., pleaded not guilty to drug-related charges in a federal court in New York.

Despite the crisis, Venezuela has signalled openness to commercial energy deals with the U.S., provided the agreements are legal and mutually beneficial.