Putin accuses France of piracy over tanker arrest
In a statement from the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused France of piracy after Paris’s military reportedly halted a tanker believed to be connected to Russia’s shadow fleet. Putin argued that the seizure took place in neutral waters with no justification, asserting that the vessel carried no military cargo.
The tanker’s exact links remain contested. Western officials have described it as part of a broader network often referred to as Russia’s shadow or covert fleet. Putin acknowledged the dispute about the ship’s ties to Russia, saying, “I honestly don’t know to what extent it is connected with Russia.” He noted the tanker was flagging under a different country and carried an international crew, complicating attribution of responsibility.
Regarding the French operation to board and seize the vessel, Putin called the action “piracy,” suggesting that Paris was probing the ship for potential military goods, drones, or similar items. He claimed such items were not present on board, casting doubt on the stated military-flagged objectives of the operation.
The tanker and the shadow fleet
The case has fed ongoing Western skepticism about the so‑called shadow fleet allegedly used by Moscow to move fuel and other contraband. France’s move to detain the tanker has intensified tensions between Paris and Moscow, with Moscow reframing the incident as an illegal seizure and warning of consequences for escalating European militarization.
Putin also touched on the broader geopolitics at play, noting that the ship’s flag and multinational crew complicate clear attribution. He implied that the dispute could become a touchstone for broader debates about maritime law, sovereignty, and the reach of Western navies near critical energy routes.
Drone flights and Russia’s denial
Attributions about drone flights over Danish airspace were mentioned in Paris’s briefing as part of the broader narrative linking the tanker to unexplained aerial activity. Putin denied that Russia was responsible for those drone incidents, comparing the public anxiety about Russian drones to the long-ago phobia of UFOs. He insisted Moscow was not involved in the alleged drone operations and urged calm amid heightened fears of escalation.
Europe’s militarization and Germany’s army
Beyond the tanker episode, Putin shifted to European defense policy, accusing European governments of fueling a spiral of militarization. He pointed to Germany’s stated aim of building the strongest army in Europe as an example, adding, “We hear that, we see what is meant by it, and we understand that countermeasures will not be long in coming.” While he did not provide operational details, his remark signaled potential Russian military-political responses to European armed buildup.
Warning about the Zaporizhzhia plant
In a separate thread of his remarks, Putin accused Kyiv of conducting air attacks around the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (the largest in Europe). He warned that Russia could respond with strikes on electrical and nuclear facilities on Ukrainian-controlled territory. Putin argued that Ukraine still has functional power infrastructure on its side, implying a reciprocal risk scenario should aggression continue.
U.S. missiles and the risk of escalation
Turning to the United States, Putin warned against the delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, calling the prospect dangerous and saying such weapons could worsen relations between Moscow and Washington. He argued that while these missiles might not immediately change battlefield dynamics, they could trigger a new, qualitatively different phase of escalation and complicate crisis management at the highest levels of government.
Context and outlook
The remarks arrive as the war in Ukraine—now more than three and a half years old—continues to shape international security calculations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been engaged in high-stakes diplomacy, reportedly discussing arms deliveries with Western leaders in recent weeks, while former U.S. President Donald Trump has made statements about Ukraine’s prospects of reclaiming territories, underscoring how the conflict remains central to global strategic tensions. Putin’s comments reflect a broader Kremlin strategy to frame Western actions as provocations that demand sharp, coordinated responses across political, military, and economic domains.
