Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha praised the actions of the United States following the detention of a Russian-flagged tanker by American naval forces. Sybiha emphasized the importance of a decisive approach rather than one based on fear, stating that this contributes to the establishment of lasting peace.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“The detention of a Russian-flagged vessel in the North Atlantic underscores the decisive leadership of the United States and President Trump. We welcome this approach to interacting with Russia: to act, not to fear. This is also relevant to the peace process and the move towards establishing a durable peace,” he wrote on social media platform X.
Details of the Operation in the North Atlantic
Recently, American forces seized the Russian tanker Marinera, formerly known as Bella 1. The operation took place in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, between Iceland and Great Britain. The tanker, which belonged to the so-called “shadow fleet,” is suspected of transporting sanctioned Venezuelan oil, violating international norms and sanctions regimes.
The US European Command confirmed that the vessel was seized as part of efforts to combat illegal oil trading. According to White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt, after the tanker was registered under the Russian flag, Washington deemed it “stateless.”
New Detentions and Reactions
Caroline Levitt clarified that Marinera was operating under a false flag, which led to the issuance of an arrest warrant, and the crew faces potential liability. In addition to Marinera, US Southern Command reported the detention of another sanctioned tanker, “Sofia,” in the Caribbean Sea, which, according to American military sources, was also engaged in illegal activities. The US Coast Guard is escorting this tanker for further judicial review.
The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation stated that the vessel Bella 1 received a temporary permit to operate under the Russian flag at the end of December 2025. The agency cites the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, claiming that there is freedom of navigation on the high seas and no country has the right to use force against vessels properly registered under the jurisdiction of other states.
According to industry sources, documents, and the monitoring service TankerTrackers, since the beginning of 2026, about ten tankers carrying oil and fuel have departed from Venezuelan territorial waters, despite export restrictions imposed by the US. Such measures were introduced by US President Donald Trump in mid-December, and following the detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by American forces, the oil embargo remains in effect. Trump also noted that the US could benefit from Venezuelan resources, and American oil companies are interested in revitalizing the country’s energy sector.