France’s President Emmanuel Macron announced that the French Navy intercepted a new tanker, the Tagor, which was under international sanctions and originated from Russia. Macron emphasized the importance of upholding international law and preventing ships from bypassing sanctions that fund Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The operation, conducted in the Atlantic with support from partners like the United Kingdom, was in strict compliance with maritime regulations.
Macron condemned vessels that disregard maritime rules, highlighting the environmental and safety risks they pose. In response, Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary for the Russian President, criticized France’s actions as illegal, likening them to international piracy. This incident follows the European Council’s recent adoption of sanctions targeting various sectors of the Russian energy industry, including oil exploration and transportation.
Notably, Macron previously reported a similar interception in the Mediterranean earlier this year, emphasizing how such actions contribute to financing aggression against Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the conflict in Ukraine is approaching resolution based on battlefield developments.
