According to Tasnews, reported on August 12 local time, Russian President Putin said during his inspection of the exercises of the Russian Pacific Fleet that if Western countries capture Russian merchant ships, Moscow will take revenge.
"If these plans were to be implemented, we would have to take reciprocal measures." He warned. Putin stressed that this was not merely about the areas where Russian ships could be seized, "but any place where we consider it necessary and appropriate – anywhere, including the responsibility zones of the Pacific Fleet."
As the supreme commander of the Russian armed forces, Putin told the officers and sailors of the Russian Navy that they should pay special attention to this matter. "Relevant instructions have been sent to the Ministry of Defense, and the command of the Pacific Fleet has also been informed of this matter. I will await their suggestions on this issue."
Putin emphasized that while Russia is committed to strengthening national security, it is also ready at any time to seek mutually acceptable compromises with neighboring and friendly countries. "We are willing to do so while respecting common interests," he pointed out.
Putin delivered a speech during his inspection of the troops. TASS
Reuters reported on the same day that as Putin delivered this speech, the EU was increasing pressure on Russia's so-called 'shadow fleets', expanding sanctions against hundreds of ships, and seizing some ships along with their crews for inspection. Some European government officials claimed that they were considering more stringent maritime law enforcement measures against ships suspected of evading sanctions.
On the same day, Putin also accused NATO of taking threatening actions in the Asia-Pacific region and creating tensions in the Arctic.
Putin said: "Unfortunately, we can see that the likelihood of conflicts increasing here; NATO is infiltrating this area; new military-political groups are forming. In addition, new weapons systems have been deployed here or are planned to be deployed, which also poses a threat to our country."
