Russia threatens to seize European ships and prepares for new mobilization

In a new escalation that could open an international maritime confrontation front, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened today to seize ships belonging to European countries in response to the interception and detention of vessels suspected of being linked to what is known as the Russian “shadow fleet.”

Speaking on the sidelines of Russian naval exercises in the Far East, Putin said Moscow was monitoring the moves of some countries that had considered confiscating Russian ships and selling associated assets, describing such measures as “piracy and thievery.” He added that if confiscations were carried out, Russia would “have to respond in kind,” emphasizing that Moscow would act “wherever we deem it necessary and appropriate, anywhere.”

Putin’s threats came after European countries, including Sweden and France, intercepted in recent months ships believed to belong to the “shadow fleet,” which Moscow uses to circumvent Western sanctions imposed since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Sweden had decided to hand over to Ukraine a cargo ship it intercepted in March, while Kyiv stated it was carrying stolen Ukrainian wheat from territories controlled by Russia.

Putin made these remarks aboard the Russian cruiser Varyag off Sakhalin Island, where the Russian Navy is conducting military exercises, a week before joint US-South Korea drills simulating a potential attack from North Korea, amid rising tensions due to deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of preparing to launch a new mass conscription campaign following the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 18–20, saying Moscow might seek to recruit hundreds of thousands of Russians by the end of the year, plus a similar number next year.

Zelensky confirmed that this information is based on intelligence data and internal Russian documents, while acknowledging that it cannot be independently verified.

On the settlement file, Zelensky announced that Kyiv had presented American negotiators with proposals for a plan to end the war, urging Washington to strengthen Ukrainian defenses, particularly air defense systems, and increase pressure on Moscow to push it toward preparing to end the war rather than prolonging it.

The Ukrainian president did not disclose details of the proposals, as peace negotiations have not fully resumed.

In a parallel development, the Financial Times reported, citing Ukrainian officials, that Kyiv had temporarily halted its drone attacks on oil tankers using the Russian port of Novorossiysk, in response to a request from US Vice President JD Vance.

The US request came amid concerns that the attacks could affect oil markets and harm American companies, while Ukraine agreed not to target the infrastructure of the Caspian Sea Pipeline Consortium or non-Russian ships that are not subject to sanctions and do not carry Russian oil or goods.