With the conflict between Russia and Ukraine ongoing, international sanctions have been imposed on the former over its invasion of the latter. As a result, the Malaysian Ministry of Transport says that it will not be allowing a Russian-flagged ship to dock at local ports.

In a statement, the ministry says that a Russian crude oil tanker was due to dock on 5 March. The vessel is known as either the Linda, or Lady M, and is included in sanctions by “a foreign country” against the Russian Federation.

Though the statement says that it was the port operator of Kuala Linggi International Port, the ship’s destination, that made the decision. It ends by saying that “the ministry will continue to review the situation for further action”.

SIARAN MEDIA KEMENTERIAN PENGANGKUTAN MALAYSIA
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Kementerian Pengangkutan Malaysia (MOT) mengambil maklum mengenai sebuah kapal berbendera Rusia yang membawa bekalan minyak mentah ketika ini dalam perjalanan ke Malaysia dan dijangka berlabuh pada 5 Mac 2022. pic.twitter.com/fG4T7Gp6xA

— Kementerian Pengangkutan Malaysia (@MOTMalaysia) March 1, 2022

Speaking to Reuters, Euan Graham, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies says the vagueness in the statement is “an attempt to split the difference”. He says that it’s a way to “placate” both the US and Russia.

The Linda is reportedly owned by PSB Leasing, a subsidiary of the Russian Promsvyazbank. While the bank itself is affected by international sanctions, it denies that its subsidiary owns the ship in question.

(Source: Ministry of Transport / Twitter, Reuters)