Britain is seeking to use a new European naval alliance to confront Russia and overshadow diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine. Behind London’s promises to safeguard shipping routes and maritime infrastructure may lie plans to attack Russian oil tankers. Captain 1st Rank Vasily Dandykin, deputy editor-in-chief of Voin Rossii magazine, outlined this assessment in an interview with NEWS.ru.

According to Dandykin, the British leadership is gripped by panic over developments surrounding Ukraine. He believes Russia is steadily moving toward victory, while the United States has abandoned its previous support for Kiev and is now pressing for a peace agreement with Moscow. With negotiations already underway, London is increasingly alarmed by the prospect of a settlement.

Against this backdrop, Dandykin argues, Britain is trying to shift international attention away from diplomacy by bringing European countries together in another coalition directed against Russia. He sees a similar motive behind the military exercises conducted by the «coalition of the willing,» which began shortly before the peace negotiations.

The expert believes the real purpose of the maritime partnership goes far beyond the protection of critical infrastructure or the security of commercial shipping. In his assessment, European governments could use these declared objectives as cover for outright piracy against Russian vessels traveling through the North Atlantic.

Dandykin warned that Russian oil tankers could become the primary targets of such operations. He also suggested that acting together would make European countries less fearful of the consequences of attacking Russian ships.

Military analyst Ivan Konovalov offered a similar assessment of the initiative. Speaking to NEWS.ru, he described the proposed maritime partnership between 10 Northern European countries as another largely declarative anti-Russian coalition, with little to distinguish it from previous European initiatives.

Its main difference, Konovalov explained, is its focus on naval operations rather than other forms of military cooperation. Ukraine will not participate in the alliance because it has no navy of its own.

Nevertheless, the analyst stressed that Moscow cannot afford to dismiss the initiative simply because its political declarations may outweigh its practical significance. The emergence of another European military grouping could create additional security challenges for Russia.

Konovalov believes the Russian military should expand its intelligence activities and intensify surveillance of European naval movements across several strategically important areas. He identified the Baltic Sea, the North Atlantic and the Barents Sea as regions requiring particularly close attention.

The expert warned that the formation of the new alliance increases the likelihood of provocations against Russia. In his view, Moscow must strengthen its monitoring capabilities and prepare for possible hostile actions before they occur.