Putin warns EU ship seizures would be 'piracy', vows retaliation

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will retaliate if European countries move to seize Russian merchant vessels, state news agency TASS reported on Wednesday.

Speaking from the far eastern island of Sakhalin, where he is observing military exercises, Putin described the potential enforcement measures as "nothing short of piracy and banditry." He said Russia would be forced to "respond in kind" if such actions were put into practice.

Putin added that any retaliatory steps would not be confined to the waters where Russian ships were detained, but would occur "wherever we deem it necessary and appropriate."

The comments come as the European Union intensifies pressure on what it calls Russia's "shadow fleet," expanding sanctions against hundreds of vessels and detaining some ships and crews for inspections. Several European governments have said they are exploring tougher maritime enforcement against ships suspected of sanctions evasion.

In the same address, Putin accused NATO of expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific region and creating tension in the Arctic. He said new military-political blocs were being formed and that weapons systems posing a threat to Russia were being deployed or planned for deployment.