If European states seize vessels with Russian cargo, Moscow will reply in form ‘wherever essential’, says Putin.
Printed On 12 Aug 2026
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has threatened to grab European vessels if European states comply with by way of on plans to grab extra business ships with Russian cargo.
Putin delivered the warning on Wednesday whereas on board a Russian cruiser off the Pacific island of Sakhalin, the place Russia’s navy was conducting a drill. He mentioned Russia could be prepared to hold out its personal seizures “wherever we deem it essential and acceptable,” based on Russia’s TASS information company.
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The assertion comes after a number of European international locations intercepted ships suspected of being a part of Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet”, carrying Russian oil in contravention of European sanctions.
New sanctions handed final month allow European Union members to promote the oil or some other cargo seized from the ships.
Putin appeared to reference the sanctions, saying some international locations are attempting to “limit the motion of vessels belonging to our financial operators” and lately “got here up with the thought of probably seizing our ships and promoting off property stolen from us”.
“If these plans are put into apply, we should reply in form,” Putin mentioned in feedback carried by Russia’s RIA Novosti information company, calling the strikes “piracy and theft”.
He mentioned “related directions” had already been delivered to Russia’s Ministry of Defence and Pacific Fleet, the naval fleet answerable for Russia’s maritime navy pursuits within the Pacific.
NATO ‘making inroads in Asia Pacific’
Putin additionally accused the NATO navy alliance of constructing inroads into the Asia Pacific area and heightening rigidity within the Arctic. “NATO is making inroads into the area, new military-political blocs are being fashioned, and new weapons methods that pose a menace to Russia are being deployed or are slated for deployment,” the Russian chief mentioned.
Russia’s naval workouts within the West Pacific come every week earlier than joint US-South Korean warfare video games, designed to simulate a doable invasion from North Korea.
Tensions are excessive within the area amid accusations from Kyiv and Seoul that Pyongyang and Moscow are additional intensifying their navy cooperation.
On Tuesday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of using North Korean missiles in a lethal air raid throughout Ukraine. A day earlier, he had warned that Moscow was receiving extra ballistic projectiles and troops from its ally Pyongyang, a growth he mentioned posed risks not just for Ukraine however for international locations in East Asia.
North Korean chief Kim Jong Un has already despatched 1000’s of troops and plentiful provides of weapons to help Putin’s four-year invasion.
