Kremlin official says Russian navy to stop West’s seizure of merchant ships

Al JazeeraEN 3 min read 100% complete by Al JazeeraFebruary 18, 2026 at 04:24 AM

AI Summary

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A Kremlin official, Nikolai Patrushev, warned that the Russian navy might intervene to prevent Western powers from seizing Russian vessels involved in sanctioned oil shipments. Patrushev accused Western nations, specifically the UK, France, and Baltic states, of "piracy-like attacks" on Russian shipping and threatened a strong response to ensure Russia's ability to export oil, grain, and fertilizer. He stated that Russia needs a permanent naval presence in key maritime areas to deter Western interference. Patrushev also alleged that NATO is planning a naval blockade of Kaliningrad, which he sees as a deliberate escalation by Europe. The statement was made on Tuesday, February 18, 2026, and published in Moscow's Argumenty i Fakty newspaper.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Washington 30% Kaliningrad 40% NATO 40% Vladimir Putin 50% Baltic States 50% United Kingdom 60% France ×260% Kremlin ×270% Russian Navy ×280% Nikolai Patrushev ×290% Russia ×7100%

Keywords

russian navy 90% seizure of vessels 80% sanctions 70% oil shipments 70% piracy-like attacks 60% kremlin 60% gunboat diplomacy 50% maritime security 50% nato 40% military escalation 40%