Putin warns of tit-for-tat seizures of European vessels amid sanctions dispute

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has threatened to seize European vessels if European states move ahead with plans to take ships carrying Russian cargo. He said Russia would respond "wherever we deem it necessary and appropriate" if such measures are carried out. The warning was delivered on Wednesday while he was aboard a Russian cruiser off the Pacific island of Sakhalin, where the navy was holding a drill.

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Putin said "relevant instructions" had already been given to the Ministry of Defence and the Pacific Fleet. He framed the possible response as retaliation for what he described as attempts to restrict the movement of vessels belonging to Russian economic operators. He also accused European states of planning to seize Russian ships and sell off property he described as stolen.

The comments come after several European countries intercepted ships suspected of being part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet, which has been used to carry Russian oil in breach of sanctions. New sanctions adopted last month allow European Union members to sell oil or other cargo seized from such ships. Putin described the measures as "piracy and robbery" and said Russia would respond in kind if they are put into practice.

The dispute adds to wider tensions over maritime enforcement linked to sanctions on Russian energy exports. The shadow fleet has become a central issue in efforts to limit Russia's oil trade, with European states trying to stop vessels suspected of evading restrictions. Any reciprocal seizures would raise the risk of direct confrontation at sea and could complicate enforcement of sanctions already in place.

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Putin also used the remarks to accuse NATO of expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific region and increasing pressure on Russia in the Arctic. He said new military-political blocs were being formed and that weapons systems threatening Russia were being deployed or prepared for deployment. His comments came as Russia's naval exercises in the western Pacific continued ahead of joint US-South Korean war games planned for the following week.

The immediate question is whether Moscow will act on the instructions Putin said had already been issued, and how European states would respond if it does. It is also unclear which vessels could be targeted, or whether any seizures would be limited to commercial shipping linked to sanctions enforcement. For now, the warning marks a sharper public threat in an already tense dispute over maritime sanctions and the shadow fleet.

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