Putin Warns of Retaliation After Calling Black Sea Attacks Piracy
Putin says Ukrainian attacks on ships in the Black Sea amount to piracy and warns Russia may expand strikes on ports and vessels if such operations continue.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described recent Ukrainian attacks on vessels in the Black Sea as acts of piracy. He made these comments while speaking to journalists following his address at VTB’s Russia Calling! investment forum.
Putin noted that strikes on tankers taking place in neutral waters — and in some cases even within the exclusive economic zone of another state — can only be regarded as outright piracy. He stressed that such actions have no justification.
The president also outlined how Russia might respond if these attacks continue. He said that Moscow could broaden the range of its strikes, targeting port infrastructure and ships entering Ukrainian harbors.
In addition, Putin stated that if Ukrainian forces persist, Russia may consider retaliatory steps against vessels belonging to countries that assist Ukraine in carrying out what he referred to as pirate operations.
He even mentioned what he called the most radical option — cutting Ukraine off from the sea entirely, which, he argued, would make any form of maritime «piracy» impossible.
Putin expressed hope that Russia’s countermeasures would force the authorities in Kiev to reconsider the logic of continuing these attacks.