MOSCOW, August 13. /TASS/. Russia vowed to retaliate against the seizure of its merchant vessels in international waters; Moscow is ready to host US special presidential envoys for a new round of talks on Ukraine; and the average price of Brent crude oil in 2026 will rise by a quarter compared to the previous year. These stories topped Thursday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.
Vedomosti: Russia, Western countries face risk of escalation in world’s oceans
On August 12, while observing the final day of the Russian Pacific Fleet exercises, President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow will respond to the seizure of its merchant vessels in international waters by unfriendly countries. According to the head of state, this will take place not only in the waters where attacks are planned - similar actions have already been carried out in the Baltic, North, and Mediterranean Seas - but also in areas where Moscow deems it appropriate, including within the Pacific Fleet’s area of responsibility.
Russia, on the basis of reciprocity, may detain, inspect, and confiscate cargo from vessels of unfriendly states, and this will lead to the establishment of a new legal precedent, lawyer and partner at BGP Litigation Sergey Glandin told Vedomosti. Currently, relations on the use of maritime space between countries are governed by both international conventions and common law. The expert noted that Russia has had a foreign policy concept in effect since the end of March 2023, under which Moscow, while not establishing international rules, reserves the right to take symmetrical and asymmetrical actions against unfriendly states.
