President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would retaliate in kind if European countries carried out plans to seize Russian commercial vessels, describing the proposed measures as \u201cpiracy and robbery.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see the authorities of certain countries attempting, in violation of international maritime law, to restrict the movement of vessels operated by our businesses,\u201d Putin said<\/a> during a meeting with Pacific Fleet personnel aboard the missile cruiser Varyag on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd recently, they went so far as to consider seizing our vessels and selling the property they have plundered from us. This is, of course, nothing other than piracy and robbery.\u201d<\/p>\n The warning follows the European Union\u2019s adoption<\/a> in July of a mechanism allowing member states to confiscate and sell Russian oil carried aboard shadow fleet vessels attempting to evade the bloc\u2019s sanctions. The measure, introduced as part of the EU\u2019s 21st sanctions package, also covers grain cargoes.<\/p>\n Putin said Russia would take similar action if European countries put the measures into practice, adding that Moscow\u2019s response would not necessarily be confined to the same waters where Russian ships were seized.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will not necessarily act in the waters where raids on our ships and vessels are being planned, but wherever we ourselves consider it necessary and appropriate. Anywhere, including in the Pacific Fleet\u2019s area of responsibility,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Putin said the Defense Ministry had already received instructions to prepare a response.<\/p>\n Pacific Fleet Commander Viktor Liina then told<\/a> Putin that the Russian military had conducted a \u201cdetailed analysis\u201d of maritime traffic in the Asia-Pacific region.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know the routes, what they are carrying and whose ships they are,\u201d Liina said.<\/p>\n He said 1,001 vessels had passed through Russia\u2019s exclusive economic zone along the Kuril Islands between April 24 and Aug. 6, including 379 sailing under the flags of countries that Moscow officially classifies as \u201cunfriendly.\u201d<\/p>\n Those vessels included 273 dry bulk carriers and 71 tankers, Liina said. Twenty-six were British and nine were French.<\/p>\n