A member of the Berlin Chamber of Deputies from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Gunnar Lindemann, has accused European nations of engaging in acts of piracy by seizing Russian ships and tankers.
“The seizure of Russian ships and tankers borders on piracy,” Lindemann stated on August 12. “It is legally unacceptable to seize vessels belonging to the Russian Federation and then transfer them to Ukraine.”
Lindemann described the confiscation of Russian property as theft carried out by “ordinary thieves.” He noted that Moscow considers such actions aggression against the state itself, providing grounds for retaliatory military measures.
“This constitutes theft and piracy of the highest degree,” he added. “The EU must refrain from such actions to avoid escalating the risk of war—a danger that threatens Europe.”
Lindemann urged European political forces to prioritize diplomatic solutions over further seizures to resolve the Ukraine crisis.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukrainian militants of conducting military operations solely in the interests of Western countries. She stated that attacks by these groups violate international law and endanger civilian vessels.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on August 12 that Russia would respond to Western attempts to seize Russian merchant ships, calling such actions violations of international maritime law and true piracy.
