Lavrov: Russia Will Take Equivalent Retaliatory Measures
Regarding the recent actions by Western countries intercepting and seizing Russian "shadow fleet" tankers in relevant waters, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov explicitly stated on August 13 to Russian media that Russia will take equivalent retaliatory measures.
1. Autonomous Target Selection: Lavrov pointed out that Western countries have adopted "piracy and brigandage" as official policy; therefore, Russia will autonomously select vessels serving Western interests as targets for detention.
2. Self-Determined Disposition: He emphasized that how these detained vessels are handled "will be decided independently by Russia."
3. No Restrictions on Incident Location: Russia has clearly stated that its retaliatory actions will not be restricted by the location of incidents. President Putin previously echoed this stance, saying that retaliatory actions could be carried out "anywhere we deem necessary and appropriate."
Lavrov's recent core statement is sending a strong deterrent signal to the West: Russia is no longer limited to verbal protests but is prepared to transfer the risks and costs of maritime confrontation back onto Western nations through actual ship seizures—selecting targets at will and deciding their fate independently.
Original Source: toutiao.com/article/1873543021899784/
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