Putin warns the West: Seizure of Russian ships will be met with retaliation

Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia will react in the same way if Western countries seize control of Russian commercial ships.

During his visit to Sakhalin Island in eastern Russia, the Russian president described the seizure of these ships as “piracy.” He said that authorities of some Western states are trying to hinder the movement of Russian vessels.

These warnings come at a time when the West has intensified measures against the Russian economy. As part of these, tankers suspected of transporting sanctioned oil have been detained or blocked.

Putin has meanwhile continued his verbal attacks on NATO, claiming that the military alliance is expanding its activity in the Asia-Pacific region and increasing tensions in the Arctic.

The Kremlin chief’s remarks come at a moment when the control and detention of ships linked to Russian oil exports are being used by Western countries as part of economic pressure on Moscow, deepening the clashes between the parties.