Putin threatened to confiscate European ships anywhere in the world if the Russian ghost fleet is pursued.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will respond symmetrically to any attempts by the European Union or Western nations to seize vessels belonging to Russia's so-called shadow fleet. The statement was delivered during a visit to the missile cruiser Varyag on Sakhalin Island. Putin indicated that such a response could occur in international waters anywhere in the world.

The threat serves as a direct reaction to ongoing efforts by Western powers to monitor and restrict the Russian merchant fleet. By framing the potential retaliation as a symmetrical measure, the Russian leadership has signaled an escalation in the maritime tensions surrounding the enforcement of international sanctions against Russian shipping interests.