The message is clear, Europe intends to stand firm against Putin. A commercial boat transporting vehicles to Saint Petersburg, suspected of belonging to a Russian company targeted by the sanctions imposed by the EU against Moscow, was diverted to Boulogne-sur-Mer (Pas-de-Calais). Customs are currently conducting hearings and investigations on board to confirm these links.
A customs patrol boat, supported by a gendarmerie patrol boat and a navy patrol boat, escorted the ro-ro Baltic Leader, left Rouen under the Russian flag, said Véronique Magnin, regional communications officer for the maritime prefecture. This 127 meter boat is “strongly suspected of being linked to sanctioned Russian interests”, she specified, emphasizing that this measure, a sign of “firmness”, was “rare” in this area.
The European Union on Thursday adopted an unprecedented package of sanctions against Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, shortly before London and Washington in turn tightened restrictions, without taking drastic measures. In addition to 26 personalities from the business world, the Russian president and his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, are now targeted.