Russia escorted its oil tanker through English Channel: presidential aide

Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev said Monday a frigate of the country's Black Sea Fleet had escorted a Russian oil tanker through the English Channel last week, reported Xinhua.

Nikolai Patrushev, also chairman of the Russian Naval Board, said in an interview with the Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta that the United States, Britain, France and some of their allies are attempting to exert political, military and economic control over key maritime passages.

In particular, Britain has taken steps to restrict vessels engaged in trade with Russia from passing through the English Channel. Russia views such moves as "unacceptable," he said.

He added that in response to Western attempts to block key maritime routes for Russian foreign trade, Russia is taking political, diplomatic and other measures.

Patrushev noted that global geopolitical and economic turmoil is a natural consequence of problems artificially created by the West, whose goal is to gain control over the world's oceans.