France Forced to Release Detained Tanker Belonging to Russia’s Shadow Fleet

President Emmanuel Macron said that France is forced to release a recently detained tanker belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet due to national legislation requirements.

This was reported to journalists by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to European Pravda.

He had a telephone conversation with the French leader the day before and thanked him for detaining the sanctioned tanker Grinch.

Macron said during the conversation that he plans to change the country’s legislation so that detained Russian tankers remain under arrest in France in the future.

Zelensky called on European states to follow France’s example and stop and arrest tankers belonging to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”

“Tankers carrying Russian oil must be stopped and kept, not stopped for a while and then released. In other words, there is a movement towards such decisions, and it will definitely become more difficult for the Russians,” Zelensky said.

On January 22, France detained the tanker Grinch in the Alboran Sea between Spain and North Africa with the assistance of its allies.

The sanctioned vessel left Murmansk, Russia, and was heading south.

After the tanker was detained, the relevant services launched a judicial investigation, and the vessel was redirected to an unnamed port under the escort of the French Navy.

During the G7+ embargo and price cap on Russian oil, the Grinch transported oil and petroleum products from Russian ports on the Baltic and Black Seas, as well as from the Pacific region.

The main destinations for deliveries were China, India, and other third countries. At the request of the Marseille prosecutor’s office, the captain of the ship was taken into custody.

On January 10, 2025, the US imposed sanctions against this ship. Later, the EU, Switzerland, the UK, Canada, and Ukraine joined the sanctions.