Russia Slams France's Seizure of Tanker as Act of Piracy

The Russian Embassy in Paris condemned the French authorities' seizure of the 'Deliver' tanker in the Mediterranean. Russian officials emphasized that diverting the ship's route by force, citing the EU's unilateral sanctions, is completely contrary to international law. The Russian Embassy in Paris described the operation as illegal and unacceptable. Recalling that there is no legal basis for forcing a commercial ship to change its route and go to port, officials also rejected France's justification. It was stated that the EU's unilateral restrictive measures cannot be considered 'international sanctions' without the approval of the UN Security Council.