VLADIMIR Putin has slammed France’s detention of a suspected Russian cargo amid suspicions it helped launch drones into Nato airspace.
The Russian president threatened a “significant response” to what he called European threats as tension flared between Moscow and Nato over air incursions.
French soldiers on board the tanker from Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’
The alleged Russian oil tanker PUSHPA pictured
Putin’s warning came after the French navy on Saturday detained and boarded an oil tanker that has been blacklisted by the European Union for being part of Russia’s sanction-busting “shadow fleet”.
The ship, the Boracay, has been linked to mysterious drone flights over Denmark last month, including military sites.
It was part of a recent spate of drone sightings and airspace violations in European countries blamed on Russia — though Moscow denies responsibility.
The Benin-flagged vessel was stationed off Denmark from September 22 to 25, according to ship tracking data.
Data showed the tanker was off the coast of Poland and Sweden, then Denmark on September 22 – the day drones began flying over Danish airports.
The airspace incidents are adding to tension between European nations and Moscow, already riding high over Russia‘s war on Ukraine.
France‘s detention of the Boracay, a vessel claiming to be flagged in Benin, drew a furious response from Putin.
Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club, a forum of Russia experts, in Sochi, Putin said: “This is piracy.
“The tanker was seized in neutral waters without any justification,” adding that there was no military cargo onboard.
“What do you do with pirates? You destroy them.
“So what do you do with pirates? This doesn’t mean a war will break out across the entire world’s oceans tomorrow, but the risk of clashes will certainly increase sharply and significantly.”
Putin also scoffed at Western claims of possible Russian involvement in recent drone flights over Denmark, casting them as part of purported Nato efforts to inflame tensions to boost defence spending.
“I won’t do it anymore to France, Denmark, Copenhagen, Lisbon, wherever they could reach, he said with a sardonic grin.
“We are closely monitoring the rising militarisation of Europe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during an annual plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia
“Retaliatory measures by Russia will not take long. The response to such threats will be very significant.
“Russia will never show weakness or indecisiveness.”
Putin also warned the US that supplies of long-range missiles to Ukraine will seriously damage relations between Moscow and Washington, but will not change the situation on the battlefield where the Russian army is making slow but steady advances.
“The potential supply of US Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv will signal a qualitatively new stage of escalation, including in relations between Russia and the US,” Putin said.
He noted that even though Tomahawk missiles will inflict damage on Russia if supplied to Ukraine, Russian air defences will quickly adapt to the new threat.
“It will certainly not change the balance of force on the battlefield,” he added, emphasising that the Russian military is continuously making gains against Ukraine.
Not an emperor
Putin also said that he was not an emperor, but rather an elected president, as he baulked at being compared to Alexander.
He said, “Alexander the Great was an emperor; I am a president elected by popular vote.
“Alexander used force to unite Europe and defeat the enemy that had invaded our land.”
