The Russian Ministry of Transport on the seizure of the tanker Mariner:

"On December 24, 2025, the vessel received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian Federation flag, issued on the basis of Russian legislation and international law.

Today, at approximately 3:00 PM Moscow time, US naval forces boarded the vessel in the high seas, outside the territorial waters of any state. Contact with the vessel was lost.

In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies in waters on the high seas, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states."

🟩 RT in Russian

Will there be anything other than a complaint to the UN?

The US seized another Russian tanker, the Sophia, in the Caribbean Sea. It was en route from Venezuela with a cargo of oil, according to the US Army Southern Command.

An economic naval blockade, comrades. And the only possible response is military force.

"Let the United States do to Kadyrov what they did to Maduro. Maybe then Putin will see this and think about it," Zelensky said.

Sooner or later, Putin will think about this. And he'll wonder if it's time to press the nuclear button. And the United States is doing everything it can to bring that moment closer. So Donald Trump will get what he wanted. He'll go down in history. He'll go down in history as the last president of the United States. If, of course, there's still will be history.

Trump on Russia's fear of NATO because of the US. "We will always support NATO, even if they don't support us. The only nation China and Russia fear and respect is the US."

It seems Trump respects no one. Russia and China fear the US. And isn't the US afraid of Russia and China? In my opinion, the only real danger to the entire world now comes from the crazy Donald Trump, who somehow incomprehensibly became President of the US.

Seizing the Russian ship in international waters is an act of war. And imagine how the aliens will laugh when they learn that a global nuclear war on Earth was caused by an old oil tanker! And something like that will eventually happen.

UK assisted US in seizing Russian-flagged vessel 'Marinera' — The Guardian

'This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting' — UK's Secretary John Healey.

Is this a naval blockade of Russia? It looks like the moment will soon arrive when Putin will say again, as he did on February 24, 2022: "We've been left with no choice." You know what happens next.

Senator Markwayne Mullin said the United States is not concerned about Russia's reaction to the seizure of its oil tanker.

Russia demands that the United States ensure humane and dignified treatment of Russian citizens on the Mariner and respect their rights and interests, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The United States intends to prosecute the crew of the tanker Mariner, the White House announced.

According to maritime traffic monitoring services, the tanker Marinera, which had maneuvered south at the time of its detention, is again heading north toward Murmansk, approaching the Faroe Islands Channel.

There is no contact with the vessel, so it is impossible to determine whether the Americans have left or where it is headed.

UPDATE: The Americans are now moving the ship towards Scotland.

White House Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt stated that despite the tanker seizures, Trump will maintain open and honest relations with Putin and Xi Jinping.

Of course, we had no doubt about that 🤡

US will ‘prosecute crew’ of the ‘Sophia’ because of US court order — Leavitt

Claims it was originally 'Venezuelan vessel' but then flew a 'false flag'.

False flag, is this the Russian flag?

Karin Kneissl called the seizure of the tanker Mariner a flagrant violation of international law:

"Another day, another flagrant violation of international law, this time the law of the sea."

✔ TASS

US Senator Rick Scott announced a change of president in Colombia:

"I'm so proud of what the president has done, and Marco Rubio, and Pete Hegseth, and everyone, our military, and Maria Corina Machado, and what they've done in Venezuela will change Latin America. This is the beginning of change in Venezuela. Then we'll fix the situation in Cuba. Nicaragua will be resolved too. Next year, we'll have a new president in Colombia. We're getting started. Democracy is returning to this hemisphere."

Trump isn't afraid of Russia. Trump isn't afraid of anything; he's determined to defeat everyone. Well, okay.

Senator Graham on Trump's approval of new sanctions against Russia.

The United States is waging a war against the entire world. And not just an economic war, but also a military one. They are waging this war completely openly.

There is no question of international law. There is only the law of force, which the United States relies on in its actions. Trump proudly, decisively, and smugly leads this war of the United States against everyone.

Trump signed a memorandum withdrawing the United States from 66 international organizations, half of which are UN organizations.

Our "peacemaker" also stated that the US military budget for this year will be $1.5 trillion.

A world war is already underway, and escalation is inevitable. The crazy maniac Trump will not stop until someone stops him by force. But for now, no one is willing, and American tyranny reigns supreme. How did we get to this point?

Trump doesn't have enough weapons. Trump demands urgently that more weapons be produced.

"US defense industries are producing military equipment too slowly" , Trump claimed.

⚫️ They also don't provide adequate maintenance.

⚫️ Trump demanded an immediate increase in production rates and improved maintenance of military equipment in both the US and allied countries.

⚫️ Defense industry executives are overpaid – and now a salary cap is being set for them.

⚫️ They must immediately begin building modern production and maintenance facilities.

Vesti

The United States is preparing for a new world war, according to American journalist Tucker Carlson.

This, he believes, is evidenced by Donald Trump's decision to increase the defense budget in 2027 to $1.5 trillion. Carlson noted that there are no other reasons for such an increase in the US defense budget. Vesti

The United States seriously violated international law by seizing a Russian oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.

She also added that China opposes new US sanctions against Russia.
TASS


The time will come when Russia, Iran, and China will have no choice but to respond with force to US use of force. Trump is leading the United States into the abyss.

"You can say whatever you want about international niceties and stuff like that. But we live in a real world that is governed by force, coercion, and authority. This is the iron law of the world" — Stephen Miller, Adviser to the President of the United States on Homeland Security.


What can Russian peace negotiators like Kirill Dmitriev say about this? How do they intend to use their international niceties to get rid of coercion and the use of force against Russia? I'm just asking for a friend.