Russia’s Putin threatens retaliatory seizures of European cargo ships

What happened

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, threatened that Russia would seize ships belonging to European countries.

Vladimir Putin tied the threat to European plans to sell cargo seized from vessels operating in Russia’s “shadow fleet.”

Vladimir Putin said the West’s actions amount to “piracy and banditry” and asserted that Russia would respond “in kind.”

Background and earlier position

Sanctions enforcement in maritime trade often involves stopping, inspecting, and detaining vessels suspected of violating sanctions, followed by decisions about seized cargo.