Putin threatens retaliation for Western seizures of Russian commercial vessels
- Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened retaliation for Western seizures of Russian commercial vessels, calling them 'piracy.'
- Putin stated that these actions are a breach of international maritime law.
- He warned that Russia's response could occur in any area deemed necessary, not just where the vessels were seized.
- The chief of the Pacific Fleet reported that the navy is prepared to inspect commercial ships serving 'unfriendly nations.'
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday threatened retaliation for Western seizures of its commercial vessels, describing them as 'piracy.' Speaking on a visit to a Russian warship that was taking part in a naval exercise in the Pacific, Putin described the Western moves to detain vessels linked to Russia as a breach of international maritime law.
'It’s nothing but piracy and robbery,' Putin said. 'If this is done, we will be forced to respond in kind.' He added that the Russian response wouldn’t necessarily come in the waters where the Russian ships were seized, noting that Moscow could retaliate 'in any area where we see it as necessary and appropriate,' including in the Pacific.
The Pacific Fleet chief, Adm. Viktor Liina, reported to Putin that the navy was ready to start inspections of the commercial ships serving the 'unfriendly nations.'
普京威胁对西方扣押俄罗斯商业船只进行报复
莫斯科（美联社）——俄罗斯总统普京周三威胁对西方扣押俄罗斯商业船只进行报复，称其为“海盗行为”。在访问一艘参与太平洋海军演习的俄罗斯军舰时，普京表示，西方扣留与俄罗斯有关的船只的举动违反了国际海洋法。
普京说：“这无异于海盗和抢劫。如果这样做，我们将被迫以同样的方式回应。”他补充说，俄罗斯的回应不一定会在俄罗斯船只被扣押的水域进行，并指出莫斯科可以在“我们认为必要和适当的任何地区”进行报复，包括太平洋。
太平洋舰队司令维克托·利纳海军上将向普京报告称，海军准备开始对服务于“敌对国家”的商业船只进行检查。