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U.S. Detains Russian Tanker in North Atlantic as UN Calls for Legal Restraint

Neither country has taken the dispute to the United Nations.

Overview

  • U.S. European Command said American authorities boarded and detained the Russian‑flag oil tanker Marinera in international waters for alleged sanctions violations.
  • Russia’s Transport and Foreign Ministries argue the boarding contradicts the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and demand respectful treatment and the swift return of the crew.
  • UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric urged adherence to international law and cautioned against escalation, noting no formal referral of the case to the organization.
  • White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said the administration will keep enforcing an embargo on vessels in the so‑called shadow fleet, regardless of the president’s personal relationships with foreign leaders.
  • Russian officials say the tanker was operating peacefully under the Russian flag in the North Atlantic and complain of disproportionate attention from U.S. and NATO forces.