Russia has made a request to the U.S. State Department to stop the tracking of a tanker heading to Venezuela, in the context of the sanctions imposed by the United States.

Russia made a request to the U.S. State Department on New Year's Eve, asking for the interception of the ship Bella 1 to be stopped, which recently appeared in the official register of Russian ships under a new name. The ship, which was initially heading to Venezuela, changed course to avoid confiscation by the U.S. Coast Guard, in the context of the complete blockade declared by President Donald Trump on sanctioned oil tankers. This request comes amid the Trump administration's efforts to end the war in Ukraine, with Trump having recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.