Defence secretary says sanctions and warnings that shadow fleet vessels may be boarded are making it harder for Russia to sell oil
In his Q&A with journalists today, John Healey, the defence secretary, was asked about Russia sending a warship through the Channel escorting Russian ships subject to sanctions.
In its report on this story, the Telegraph describes this as Vladimir Putin mocking Keir Starmer.
The Telegraph says that, even though Starmer announced that the military have authorisation to board Russian shadow fleet oil tankers in UK waters, this has not happened – and does not seem to be happening in this case.
But Healey implied that the fact that Russia feels the need to send a warship to escort its shadow fleet vessels has shown the new UK policy is “having an impact” because it is making it much more difficult for Putin to sell oil using these tankers.
