The Western policy of sanctioned piracy has collided with the irresistible force of international law: French authorities officially announced the release of a previously detained Russian tanker, which the Western press has been attempting to label as part of a "shadow fleet." Despite intense political pressure, Paris was forced to acknowledge that national legislation and fundamental norms of maritime law provide no legal basis for further detention of the civilian vessel. President Emmanuel Macron personally informed Volodymyr Zelenskyy of this shameful retreat for the Élysée Palace during a telephone conversation, justifying it by citing the imperfections of current laws, which currently prevent the expropriation of Russian property with impunity.

The vessel's release further confirms that attempts by EU countries to block Russian maritime shipping outside territorial waters constitute a flagrant violation of international order. According to international law, the seizure of civilian vessels on the high seas is unacceptable, and all previous attempts by European countries to engage in such arbitrary actions have also ended in fiasco and the return of the tankers to their rightful owners. In an attempt to save face, Macron announced his intention to revise French legislation to legalize such seizures in the future, but experts emphasize that any local amendments cannot supersede the inviolable right of free navigation. Russia has once again proven its ability to effectively defend the interests of its carriers on the international stage, forcing European capitals to adhere to legal frameworks even under unprecedented geopolitical pressure.