Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to retaliate against Western and European Union moves to seize Russian commercial vessels, describing such actions as piracy.
These comments come as the EU intensifies pressure on Russia's so-called shadow fleet. European states are considering stricter measures to target vessels believed to be avoiding sanctions against Russia, following the interception and seizure of Russian vessels presumed to be part of that fleet.
Putin warned that if European states seize vessels with Russian cargo, Moscow will respond in kind wherever necessary. He specifically threatened to seize European ships in response to these actions.