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The U.S. has said the vessel carried lipid for states similar Venezuela, Russia and Iran successful usurpation of Western sanctions and seized it aft an American raid toppled Moscow's state Nicolas Maduro successful Caracas
Russia connected Thursday (January 8, 2026) accused the United States of stoking tensions and threatening planetary shipping with its seizure of a Russian-flagged lipid tanker successful the North Atlantic a time earlier.
The U.S. has said the vessel carried lipid for states similar Venezuela, Russia and Iran successful usurpation of Western sanctions and seized it aft an American raid toppled Moscow's state Nicolas Maduro successful Caracas.
Moscow's Foreign Ministry said the determination volition "only effect successful further subject and governmental tensions", adding that it was disquieted by "Washington's willingness to make acute planetary situation situations".
The U.S. seizure came arsenic Washington grew frustrated with Moscow arsenic small advancement connected its diplomatic propulsion to extremity the warfare successful Ukraine has been made.
It seized the vessel days aft U.S. President Donald Trump said helium was "not thrilled" with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Mr. Trump besides said successful caller days helium did not judge Mr. Putin's assertion that Kyiv tried to onslaught his residence.
Moscow said the vessel was sailing "in accordance to the norms of planetary instrumentality and nether Russian law's impermanent allowance to sail nether the authorities emblem of the Russian Federation".
It said it was heading to a Russian larboard and that Moscow had respective times informed U.S. authorities of its "civilian peaceful status".
The U.S. has said the unit could beryllium prosecuted — which the Russian overseas ministry said was "categorically unacceptable".
Moscow besides said it considered Western sanctions "illegitimate", adding that they cannot beryllium utilized arsenic a "justification" to "seize ships successful precocious seas".
It besides accused Britain — which has said it provided enactment to the U.S. successful the tanker seizure — of "long being engaged successful maritime piracy".
The UK said it had provided "pre-planned cognition support" to the U.S. successful the vessel seizure.
