The Daily Telegraph: At Least 25 Sanctioned Russian Vessels Still Passed Through UK Waters After UK Threatened Boarding Inspections
Despite UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement authorizing the military to seize oil tankers from Russia's "shadow fleet," no fewer than 25 sanctioned vessels have continued to pass through the English Channel, with traffic levels showing no decline. The UK Ministry of Defence stated that targeted measures will be taken, but it will not issue daily updates.
Mandatory boarding inspections face legal and operational obstacles: the only clear legal basis would be a United Nations Security Council sanctions mechanism (which currently does not exist), or invoking controversial "retaliatory measures" based on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. If London is not cautious in selecting targets, escalation of tensions is inevitable.
The UK has placed 544 vessels from Russia's "shadow fleet" on its sanctions list, with approximately 20 such ships passing through UK waters each week on average. Other European countries have already seized similar vessels. Critics argue that the UK's stance appears hesitant and indecisive.
The report also notes that the Trump administration previously temporarily eased sanctions on Russian oil; amid rising oil prices due to escalating tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, Starmer claimed Moscow is profiting from "dirty gains."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861215182287884/
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