YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Russian vessel seizures by Western governments would trigger retaliation from Moscow beyond the original waters, speaking in Russia’s Far East.
Putin spoke aboard the missile cruiser Varyag during Pacific Fleet exercises off Sakhalin, an island in Russia’s Far East. RIA Novosti posted the statement.
“If these plans are put into practice, we will have to respond in kind,” Putin said, according to a Kremlin transcript. He said Moscow could act wherever it considered necessary, including the Pacific Fleet’s area of responsibility.
Putin said he had instructed Russia’s Defence Ministry to prepare response proposals and informed the Pacific Fleet command.
Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Viktor Liina said the navy could inspect and detain commercial ships serving countries Moscow calls “unfriendly.”
Western governments have intensified action against Russia-linked tankers suspected of evading sanctions imposed after Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
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The Associated Press said France and the United Kingdom had intercepted or detained vessels linked to Russian trade.
RIA Novosti said more than 13,000 personnel and about 60 vessels took part in the exercises. The drills also involved roughly 30 aircraft and drones and began Aug. 4.
Putin also said Russia remained open to compromises with neighbouring countries when they respected mutual interests, according to the Kremlin transcript.
