Russia has accused the United States of provoking conflict and endangering maritime trade after Washington seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic.
The U.S. said the ship was carrying oil in violation of sanctions and took action following the removal of Maduro in Venezuela.
Moscow described the seizure as “categorically unacceptable” and warned it could heighten military and political tensions. Russia also rejected the legitimacy of Western sanctions as a reason to seize ships in international waters and criticized Britain for supporting the operation.
Moscow said the ship was sailing “in accordance to the norms of international law and under Russian law’s temporary allowance to sail under the state flag of the Russian Federation.”
