{"id":22616,"date":"2026-02-17T14:04:25","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T14:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=22616"},"modified":"2026-02-17T14:04:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T14:04:25","slug":"france-releases-suspected-russian-shadow-fleet-tanker-after-huge-fine-as-ukraine-peace-talks-begin-europe-live-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=22616","title":{"rendered":"France releases suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker after huge fine, as Ukraine peace talks begin \u2013 Europe live | Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n

France releases suspected Russia ‘shadow fleet’ tanker after fine of ‘several million euros’<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n

France released a tanker suspected of being part of Russia\u2019s sanctions-busting \u201cshadow fleet\u201d called \u201cGrinch\u201d after its owner paid a fine of several million euros, a minister said in comments reported by AFP.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\"A<\/picture><\/div>
<\/svg><\/span>A French navy boat surrounds the Grinch oil tanker, intercepted by France in the Alboran Sea on suspicion of operating under a false flag and belonging to Russia\u2019s shadow fleet that enables Russia to export oil despite sanctions.<\/span> Photograph: Manon Cruz\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

French forces and their allies boarded the oil tanker last month between Spain<\/a> and Morocco after it started its journey in Russia, before escorting it to a port outside the southern city of Marseille.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tanker \u2018Grinch\u2019 is leaving French waters after paying several million euros and enduring a costly three-week immobilisation<\/strong> in Fos-sur-Mer,\u201d foreign minister Jean-No\u00ebl Barrot<\/strong> said on X.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvading European sanctions comes at a price. Russia<\/strong> will no longer be able to bankroll its war with impunity through a shadow fleet off our shores,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n