What did Putin say on the cruiser Varyag?

Putin announced that Russia would respond to the seizures of its merchant ships on the principle of reciprocity, potentially anywhere in the World Ocean, including the Pacific.

Why did the British media react strongly?

The British The Sun and Daily Express interpreted Putin's statement as a threat of escalation and a potential third world war, although Putin did not directly mention the UK.

Who is Vladimir Kornilov and what did he say?

Vladimir Kornilov is a political commentator who described the Western media reaction as 'sheer hysteria' and noted that the British press recognized themselves in the warning even though Russia did not name Britain.

GEOPOLITICS

Putin's Message from the Cruiser Varyag Sparks Hysteria

Q: Where did Putin make the statement?

He made the statement on the deck of the guard missile cruiser 'Varyag' during the final phase of exercises by Russia's Pacific Fleet, after listening to a report from Commander Viktor Liina.

A.B. · Prije 19h | 2 min

The Russian president announced a reciprocal response to the seizures of Russian merchant ships, which British media interpreted as a threat of escalation.

Summary

From the cruiser Varyag, Putin announced a reciprocal response to the seizures of Russian ships, potentially anywhere in the World Ocean.
British The Sun and Daily Express reported on a 'dramatic escalation' and fears of a third world war.
Commentator Vladimir Kornilov described the Western media reaction as 'hysteria,' noting that Putin did not directly mention Britain.

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The statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin, made during his visit to the missile cruiser "Varyag," has sparked a storm of reactions in the British press after Moscow announced a response to the seizures of Russian merchant ships and their cargo. Political commentator Vladimir Kornilov assessed that the West, especially the British media, has fallen into "sheer hysteria."

According to a report carried by Webtribune, Putin made the statement during the final phase of exercises by Russia's Pacific Fleet. As President of the Russian Federation and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he listened to a report from Pacific Fleet Commander Viktor Liina on the deck of the guard missile cruiser "Varyag."

Reciprocity Anywhere in the World Ocean

The Russian president took the opportunity to specify what kind of response Moscow is considering in the event of the seizure of its merchant ships. As he emphasized, Moscow will respond to Western moves on the principle of reciprocity, and not only in the same maritime areas where Russian ships were seized.

According to Putin, Russia's response could come anywhere in the World Ocean, including the Pacific. In this way, the scope of retaliatory actions now extends beyond the areas where Russian merchant vessels or their cargo could previously have been seized.

British Media See Themselves in the Warning

The British tabloid The Sun presented Putin's statement under the headline "Putin Threatens to Seize British Ships" and described it as a "dramatic escalation." However, Putin did not directly mention the UK in his warning, a point Kornilov highlighted, noting that the British press recognized themselves in the warning even though the Russian president did not name Britain.

The Daily Express went a step further, suggesting that Putin's warning raises new fears of a third world war. Kornilov responded by asking why the blame for escalation is placed on Putin rather than on those who seize Russian ships and cargo.

"So, Putin is causing this, not those who seize our ships and cargo? Well, I'm satisfied with the hysteria of Western portals," Kornilov concluded.

Kornilov earlier stated: "The salvo of the cruiser 'Varyag' has been heard! There is sheer hysteria in the Western, especially British, press following Putin's words, spoken on this cruiser, regarding our response to the piratical seizures of Russian merchant ships and their cargo."