Putin Threatens Retaliation if Europe Seizes Russian Ships

President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would retaliate if European countries proceeded with plans to seize Russian commercial ships, calling the proposal "piracy and robbery." During a meeting with Pacific Fleet personnel on the missile cruiser Varyag, Putin expressed concern that authorities in some countries were attempting to violate international maritime law by restricting Russian vessels.

The warning comes amid the EU's July adoption of a mechanism allowing member states to confiscate and sell Russian oil from shadow fleet vessels evading sanctions. This includes grain cargoes. Putin stated that if Europe carried out these measures, Russia would take similar action, noting that any response could occur outside the targeted waters.

The Defense Ministry has been instructed to prepare a response, and the Pacific Fleet Commander, Viktor Liina, reported that Russia had conducted a detailed analysis of maritime traffic in the Asia-Pacific region. Liina revealed that 1,001 vessels passed through Russia's exclusive economic zone along the Kuril Islands between April 24 and August 6, including 379 ships flagged to unfriendly countries.

Among these were 273 dry bulk carriers and 71 tankers. European countries and Britain have detained five tankers carrying Russian oil since the beginning of the year.