Russia has strongly condemned the US seizure of an oil tanker, heralding a new chill in relations between Moscow and Washington that could spread to other areas and affect President Donald Trump’s efforts to persuade Russia to end its nearly four-year war in Ukraine.

The seizure Wednesday of the Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic “can only lead to a further escalation of military and political tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region, as well as a visible lowering of the threshold for the use of force’ against peaceful shipping,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn’t yet commented on the seizure of the tanker and has remained silent about the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, which his diplomats have denounced as a blatant act of aggression.

But while the Russian president has avoided any criticism of Trump, the seizure of the tanker by the US military represents a new challenge for the Kremlin.

Hawkish commentators in Moscow criticised the government for failing to mount a quick response and argued that Russia should deploy its naval assets to protect ships of the shadow fleet.