Russian Foreign Minister Accuses EU of 'Robbery' and 'Hijacking'

JAKARTA - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday accused the European Union (EU) of "robbery" and "piracy" in relation to measures targeting Russian energy-carrying vessels.

Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that Moscow would respond to any seizure of Russian commercial vessels.

Speaking to Russia's state television broadcaster, VGTRK, Foreign Minister Lavrov said the EU had coined the term "shadow fleet" to describe vessels that flout EU restrictions on Russian energy exports.

"The European Union has long created this concept. The concept is not listed in any document," said Foreign Minister Lavrov, launching Anadolu (14/8).

Furthermore, he said the EU is trying to limit Russia's ability to earn revenue in international markets and argues that Brussels treats its own decisions as something higher than international law.

Foreign Minister Lavrov noted that the EU authorized its member states not only to stop and inspect ships, but also to seize and sell their cargo, with the proceeds from the sale potentially going to Ukraine.

"The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has stated very clearly and calmly that we will respond to this robbery and piracy with similar actions," he said.

"We will choose the target ourselves," said Foreign Minister Lavrov.

He said the potential target was ships operating for the benefit of countries that had made "robbery and piracy" part of their official policy.