Russia has deployed naval assets to escort an oil tanker that is also being pursued by US forces across the Atlantic, CBS News has reported.
The ship, which is currently carrying nothing, has historically transported Venezuelan crude oil and was thought to be between Scotland and Iceland on Tuesday.
US President Donald Trump said last month he was ordering a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, a move the government there described as "theft".
Before the US captured the country's former leader Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, Trump had repeatedly accused the Venezuelan government of using ships to bring drugs into the US.
The U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board the Bella 1 last month in the Caribbean when it was believed to be heading toward Venezuela. It had a warrant to seize the ship, which was accused of violating U.S. sanctions and transporting Iranian oil.
She then dramatically changed course and her name to Marinera, re-flagged from a Guyanese ship to a Russian one. Her approach to Europe coincided with the arrival of about 10 US military transport aircraft, as well as helicopters.
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Russia says it is "monitoring with concern" the situation around the ship.
Two US officials told CBS News earlier on Tuesday that US forces were planning to board the ship and that Washington preferred to capture it rather than sink it.
Before any US military operation is launched from the United Kingdom, Washington is expected to inform its ally.
