"If Russian ships are seized, there will be a fitting response." Putin threatens the European Union

**Putin threatens EU with 'appropriate response' if Russian ships seized**

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow will respond in kind if European countries seize Russian merchant ships, state news agency TASS reported.

The statement comes as the European Union steps up pressure on Russia's "shadow fleet". The bloc is expanding sanctions on hundreds of ships and is holding some of them and their crews for inspection.

Some European governments are planning to take tougher measures against ships suspected of evading sanctions. Putin said of the measures, according to TASS:

"Of course, this is nothing more than piracy and encroachment. If this is used in practice, we will be forced to respond in kind."

Putin stressed that the response will not be limited to the waters where the ships were seized. He said the response would be "anywhere deemed necessary and expedient."

The Russian president made the remarks while observing military exercises on Sakhalin Island in the Far East. The TASS news agency also reported Putin's accusations against NATO, which he said was encroaching on the Asia-Pacific region and creating tensions in the Arctic.

"NATO is encroaching on the region, new military-political blocs are being formed. New weapons systems are being deployed or are planned to be deployed that pose a threat to Russia," Putin said.