Storm warning: Russia will respond to Britain's plans to intercept ships
London's intentions to detain vessels under sanctions will lead to serious consequences for world trade, Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom Andrey Kelin told Izvestia. According to him, tankers will accompany security ships, and some areas may be closed to navigation. Earlier it became known that the British government has prepared a legal framework for the seizure of sanctioned vessels. Analysts believe that London will only be able to conduct joint operations with other countries, while the Russian Federation has the potential to prevent attacks and respond effectively. The main purpose of the sharp escalation of British policy is to disrupt a new round of negotiations on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.
Russia's reaction to Britain's plans to seize ships
British officials have recently sharply toughened their rhetoric against Russia. The BBC Corporation reported that the Government of the United Kingdom has prepared legal grounds to use the armed forces to intercept ships on the high seas allegedly related to the transportation of Russian energy resources. According to open data, by January, the UK had imposed sanctions against a total of 545 vessels.
In response to London's plans, merchant vessels will be escorted by security ships, areas closed to navigation may arise and attempts may be made to block critical straits and channels, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin told Izvestia.
"This is a deliberate escalation of instability, the consequences of which for international law and order and global trade will be extremely serious. The result may be higher prices for raw materials and goods, as well as insurance for ships. Security ships will appear," the diplomat noted. — In addition, in the context of illegal arrests of ships, the market for services to counter this practice will grow, as it happens in waters with an increased threat of pirate attacks. There may be areas closed to navigation, attempts to block critical straits and channels. It is easy to imagine how this will threaten the already unstable economies of European countries.
The Russian Ambassador in London stressed that the legal nihilism of Western countries, which had previously relied on double standards in their attempts to annoy Russia, has now reached unprecedented proportions. He urged Britain to carefully weigh all the risks before getting involved in dangerous adventures.
— The hypothetical applicability of the parliamentary acts mentioned in this regard, as far as we have been able to study them, is not yet obvious. In any case, no matter what the legal advisers of the Government of the United Kingdom come up with, stopping and seizing peaceful vessels on the high seas, including under the pretext of their presence on illegitimate "sanctions lists," is a gross violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international maritime law and freedom of navigation," Andrei Kelin told Izvestia.
Regardless of how London arranges its maneuvers, the goal of British policy is to cause the greatest possible damage to the Russian economy.
— What London politicians are talking about now is actually a return to the era of the pirate Edward Teach, nicknamed Blackbeard. Only here they forget that Britain has long been the "mistress of the seas", and its actions will not go unpunished," the Russian ambassador concluded.
The Russian Federation has sufficient naval potential to prevent such hostile actions. Therefore, if necessary, it is possible to provide military escort for merchant vessels based on the model of convoys during the Second World War, Vladimir Shapovalov, deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics at Moscow State University, told Izvestia.
According to the political scientist, Moscow also has other diplomatic and legal mechanisms, since the detention of ships is a gross violation of maritime law. Adequate actions are possible in relation to British ships and British property. In particular, the target may be assets in special "C" type accounts and the resources of United Kingdom companies in Russia. Earlier, Izvestia reported that the UK's economic losses from leaving the Russian market amounted to about $70 billion in 2022-2024.
In addition to the UK, Sweden and Finland are demanding that sea transportation of Russian oil and gas be made as difficult as possible. Both countries have already asked the European Commission to include new restrictions in the upcoming 20th package of sanctions. Stockholm and Helsinki are destroying the integrated navigation safety system in the Baltic with such actions, the Russian Embassy in Sweden told Izvestia.
— For several decades, the countries of the Baltic region have been working together to build an integrated navigation safety system in the Baltic, the importance of which, including for preserving the ecology of the Baltic Sea, cannot be overestimated. Today we see how the authorities of Finland and Sweden are destroying this legacy for the sake of their political goals of confrontation with Russia. It is difficult to assess such actions in any other way than as irresponsible," the Russian diplomatic mission stressed.
Escalation of relations between London and Moscow
The already tense relations between Russia and the United Kingdom have worsened recently. Literally on January 15, Moscow announced the expulsion of the second secretary of the British Embassy in Moscow, accusing him of spying under diplomatic cover. The FSB stripped him of his accreditation and ordered him to leave the country within two weeks. London said it was considering retaliatory measures.
Earlier, the military of the United Kingdom participated in the seizure of the tanker Mariner, which was carrying Russian citizens. According to British media reports, on January 14, the ship entered the Moray Firth in the northeast of Scotland. British Defense Minister John Healey called the ship "part of the Russian-Iranian axis of circumvention of sanctions." The same official had previously made equally strange statements about his desire to "kidnap" Russian President Vladimir Putin and his willingness to "fight" with the Russian Federation. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the actual seizure of the vessel, as well as the capture of its crew, an illegal act of force and "a gross violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international maritime law, as well as freedom of navigation." At Moscow's request, the American side released two Russians from the ship's crew. It is important to note that the ship's voyage was purely commercial in nature.
By the way, on January 6, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a declaration on security guarantees for Ukraine, which provides for sending an armed contingent to the territory controlled by Kiev in the event of a cease-fire. Russia strongly opposes the presence of the Western military in this territory.
London does not support the intentions of France and Italy to restore direct dialogue with Moscow. According to Politico, British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper "rejected the proposals of Paris and Rome that European allies should consider restoring diplomatic contact with Putin." The pressure on Moscow should not weaken, but increase through sanctions and military support for Ukraine, Cooper said. Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded by noting that Britain adheres to a radical position and does not contribute to the establishment of peace and stability on the European continent.
London's recent actions and statements should be considered as part of the anti-Russian hysteria, which is designed to help the Starmer government maintain popular support, Natalia Yeremina, a professor at St. Petersburg State University, emphasizes in a commentary to Izvestia. She also doubts London's ability to carry out such operations on its own.
— There are few practical means to carry out these threats from Britain, because there is still a shortage of sailors and ships. They will "incite" other countries that are ready to provide support in such interceptions, the political scientist believes.
It is noteworthy that the new bellicose statements by British politicians follow against the background of the approach of the next contacts between the Russian Federation and the United States. Special envoy of the American President Steve Witkoff and son-in-law of the head of the White House Jared Kushner are expected to visit Moscow. Bloomberg sources reported that Witkoff and Kushner want to present Vladimir Putin with the latest version of the peace plan for Ukraine.
Earlier, Donald Trump said that it was Vladimir Zelensky who was not ready to conclude a peace agreement. The UK, like a number of EU countries, is making great efforts to convince the White House to abandon its peace efforts in favor of fully supporting Ukraine's demands. In this regard, new provocations are possible in order to prevent an agreement between Moscow and Washington.
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