European Union actions targeting Russian merchant vessels could rapidly escalate into a serious international crisis, Member of the European Parliament Fernand Kartheiser has warned.
Speaking in an interview with Russian news outlet Izvestia, the lawmaker stated that Moscow recently established the necessary legal framework to take retaliatory measures if European authorities move against its commercial shipping fleet.
Kartheiser explained that any action against a Russian vessel risks triggering a severe international crisis. He added that an absence of legal clarity regarding commercial ships could create broader complications in diplomatic relations with other countries.
Addressing Western terminology used to describe non-standard shipping operations, the European Parliament member emphasized that the phrase shadow fleet represents a political concept rather than a recognized legal category.
Retaliation warning from Moscow
The lawmaker's remarks follow statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who previously denounced Western plans to seize Russian ships, describing such proposals as piracy and robbery. Putin promised that Moscow would deliver a mirror response to any attempts to impound its vessels.
The Russian president also specified that European nations could face retaliation beyond the immediate waters where forceful actions against Russian ships are planned.
EU maritime sanctions context
The European Parliament serves as the directly elected legislative assembly of the 27-member European Union, debating foreign policy, trade regulations, and international sanctions. Kartheiser is a Luxembourgish politician who serves as a member of the parliament.
The term shadow fleet is used by Western officials to describe oil tankers and cargo vessels operating outside Western insurance networks and maritime registries. These ships are frequently utilized to transport crude oil and commercial goods following trade restrictions imposed by the EU and G7 nations.
Under international maritime principles, commercial shipping in international waters is protected, making enforcement actions against foreign-flagged merchant vessels a sensitive issue in international relations. Izvestia is a daily newspaper based in Moscow that regularly reports on Russian foreign affairs.
