Putin threatens retaliatory seizures of European ships

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday threatened to seize ships belonging to European countries in retaliation for plans to sell off cargo seized from Russian vessels​ while the commander of Russia's Pacific Fleet said his forces were ready to "inspect and detain" ‌foreign ships.

The comments come as the EU intensifies pressure on Russia's so-called shadow fleet, expanding sanctions against hundreds of vessels and detaining some ships and ​their crews for checks.

"We will be forced to respond in kind," the Kremlin chief, adding that Moscow would act "wherever we ourselves deem necessary and appropriate — anywhere."

Several European companies have intercepted ships carrying Russian oil in contravention of European sanctions targeting the vital revenue source.

And some European governments have said they are exploring tougher maritime enforcement ​measures against ships suspected of sanctions evasion.

"We can see that the authorities of certain ⁠countries, in violation of international maritime law, are attempting to restrict the movement of our economic ​operators’ vessels..., and have recently gone so far as to consider the possibility of seizing our vessels ​and selling off the property they have plundered from us," said Putin.

"Naturally, this is nothing less than piracy and robbery. And if this begins to be put into practice, we shall be forced to respond in kind. And not ​necessarily in those waters where raids on our ships and vessels are planned, but wherever we ourselves ​deem it necessary and appropriate."

Swedish court documents showed Stockholm will transfer to Kyiv a seized Russian ship suspected of transporting grain from occupied Ukraine.

Viktor Liina, commander of Russia's Pacific Fleet, told Putin that what he described as hostile ‌countries ⁠like Britain and France also transported goods on vessels flying flags of convenience which , in the EU and Britain's own language, could also be described as a "shadow fleet."

"Western states are actively using vessels flying the flags of third countries to transport cargo in their own interests. In essence, this constitutes ​their shadow fleet," Liina ​told Putin.

"We have the ⁠capabilities to inspect and detain vessels belonging to unfriendly states and their shadow fleet."

He said his fleet had carried out a detailed analysis of maritime ​traffic in ⁠the Asia-Pacific region and knew the routes, the cargo, and ownership of the vessels.

Putin also accused NATO of threatening behavior in the Asia-Pacific region, and of creating tension in the Arctic.

"We can see that, unfortunately, the potential for conflict ⁠is ​growing here," said Putin.

Putin was speaking aboard the Russian cruiser Varyag off the island of Sakhalin, where Russia's navy was conducting drills.

The exercises come a week before joint US-South Korean war games, designed to simulate a possible invasion from North Korea.

Tensions are high in the region amid accusations from Kyiv and Seoul that Pyongyang and Moscow are further intensifying their military cooperation.