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MOSCOW — <\/span>Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday threatened retaliation for Western seizures of its commercial vessels<\/a>, describing them as \u201cpiracy.\u201d <\/p>\n Speaking on a visit to a Russian warship that was taking part in a naval exercise in the Pacific, Putin described the Western moves to detain vessels linked to Russia as a breach of international maritime law.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nothing but piracy and robbery,\u201d Putin said. \u201cIf this is done, we will be forced to respond in kind.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that the Russian response wouldn’t necessarily come in the waters where the Russian ships were seized, noting that Moscow could retaliate \u201cin any area where we see it as necessary and appropriate,\u201d including in the Pacific.<\/p>\n The Pacific Fleet chief, Adm. Viktor Liina, reported to Putin that the navy was ready to start inspections of the commercial ships serving the \u201cunfriendly nations.\u201d He noted that many of the ships operated by British, French and other European carriers fly the flags of other nations, effectively making them a \u201cshadow fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have enough assets for inspection and detention of vessels of the unfriendly nations and their shadow fleet,\u201d Liina told Putin. \u201cWe are ready to start performing the task.\u201d<\/p>\n Russia is believed to be using a fleet of hundreds of ships to evade international sanctions imposed after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. <\/p>\n