Led by the country’s sole aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, the Russian flotilla had been due to dock imminently at Ceuta. The Russian defence ministry said the Russian fleet had never intended to dock at Ceuta in the first place. Since 2011 at least 60 Russian warships have docked there, including numerous stop-overs following the imposition of EU sanctions on Russia for its invasion and annexation of Crimea in March 2014. Last week, British Royal Navy vessels monitored the Russian warships as they moved through the Channel. It is now likely pressure will be placed on the Maltese government to withdraw any offer of facilities for the Russian ships.

Source: The Guardian October 26, 2016 13:15 UTC