Mediterranean states say adrift Russian tanker poses 'imminent and serious' threat

A Russian LNG tanker, Arctic Metagaz, damaged earlier this month and currently adrift without crew, floats in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea between Malta and the Italian islands of Lampedusa and Linosa, in this handout picture released on March 13, 2026. Marina Militare/Handout via REUTERS

BRUSSELS, March 16 (Reuters) - Italy, France and ⁠seven other nations told the European Commission that a Russian liquefied natural gas ⁠tanker adrift in the Mediterranean represents an ecological threat, and they urged swift ‌action, a letter showed on Monday.

Russia's Foreign Ministry acknowledged that the vessel was adrift in the Mediterranean and said Russia's further involvement in resolving the situation depended on "concrete circumstances".