MOSCOW: Russia said on Friday that the United States had decided to release two Russian crew members from a Russian-flagged oil tanker that Washington seized earlier this week.
U.S. authorities said the tanker was part of a shadow fleet carrying oil for countries including Venezuela, Russia and Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions, and they seized it in the North Atlantic even though the ship was escorted by the Russian navy.
“In response to our request, US President Donald Trump has decided to release two Russian citizens aboard the Marinera oil tanker, previously detained by the United States during an operation in the North Atlantic,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a statement.
“We welcome this decision and express our gratitude to American leaders,” he added.
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on Telegram that Trump decided to release “all Russians” aboard the Marinera oil tanker.
The United States previously said the Sailor crew could be prosecuted, which Russia called “categorically unacceptable.”
Moscow on Thursday accused Washington of stoking tensions and threatening international shipping with the seizure of the oil tanker, which it has described as illegal.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said the move “will only result in increased military and political tensions,” adding that it was concerned about “Washington's willingness to generate acute international crisis situations.”
