Putin threatens to seize European ships over shadow fleet plan

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to seize European ships in response to EU plans to intercept vessels suspected of being part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet. Speaking while watching naval drills in the far east of Russia, Mr Putin described the restrictions on Russian vessels as piracy and banditry. He said Moscow would be forced to respond in kind and would do whatever it deemed necessary and appropriate anywhere.

The threat comes as the EU considers measures to stop ships that Russia uses to evade international oil sanctions. These shadow fleet vessels often sail without a valid national flag, making them harder to track and intercept. Russia has relied heavily on such ships to maintain oil exports despite sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine.

The development also coincides with signs that Russia's economy has stuttered to a halt in the second quarter. While higher oil prices and a loosening of some sanctions after the Iran war have helped, inflation has spiked, partly because of Ukrainian drone attacks on major oil refineries and e-commerce warehouses. Russia's central bank expects inflation to reach around 7% this year.

Analysts note that Mr Putin's remarks carry a strong symbolic element. He spoke from aboard the Varyag, the flagship of Russia's Pacific fleet, dressed in what looked like a naval uniform. That setting, and his language, fit a pattern of sabre-rattling that has been a core part of his leadership. But there is often a gap between what Russia threatens and what it is able or willing to do, especially while its military is bogged down in Ukraine.

Mr Putin also avoided mentioning why the EU imposed its sanctions or why member states might be allowed to sell oil or other cargo from seized ships. By framing the issue as simple piracy, he seeks to intimidate other countries into leaving Russia's shadow fleet alone. That fleet remains a major source of revenue for Moscow, which still depends heavily on hydrocarbon exports.

At this stage, there is no indication that Russia has taken any concrete action against European ships. But the threat adds another layer of tension to an already strained relationship between Moscow and the West over maritime trade and the enforcement of sanctions.