Catastrophe looming; Putin issues warning: "NATO is moving in…" PHOTO/VIDEO

“Russia bears full responsibility”

Ambassadors from NATO member states met on Wednesday to discuss recent violations of the airspace of Poland and Romania, as well as drone-related incidents, NATO said.

Alliance members expressed their full solidarity with and support for Poland and Romania, according to a statement cited by Reuters.

NATO said Russia bears full responsibility for the airspace violations, describing them as “dangerous and unacceptable” and saying they demonstrate Moscow’s growing willingness to take risks. 

Putin furious: “We will respond in kind!”

Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened on Wednesday to seize vessels belonging to European countries in retaliation if European states move to seize Russian commercial ships. 

His announcement is a response to plans to sell cargo from intercepted Russian vessels belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet.”

The threats were prompted by the interception of several vessels carrying Russian oil in violation of European sanctions imposed on one of Moscow’s key sources of revenue. The new measures, adopted last month, now allow EU member states to sell oil or any other cargo seized from those vessels, according to Euronews.

“Banditry”

Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP / Profimedia

Moscow reacted sharply to the moves, with Putin describing them as “piracy and banditry.”

“We will be forced to respond in kind,” Putin said while observing naval exercises in Russia’s Far East. He said Moscow would act “wherever we deem it necessary and appropriate — anywhere.”

Tensions in the Far East

Putin made the remarks aboard the Russian cruiser Varyag near Sakhalin Island, where the Russian navy is conducting exercises. Meanwhile, Swedish court documents show that Stockholm will hand over to Kyiv a seized Russian vessel suspected of having transported grain from occupied parts of Ukraine.

The exercises are taking place a week before joint U.S.-South Korean military drills, which simulate a possible invasion from North Korea. Tensions in the region have intensified, with Kyiv and Seoul accusing Pyongyang and Moscow of strengthening military cooperation.