President Vladimir Putin said Russia would seize ships belonging to European countries if they tried to sell cargo confiscated from Russia-linked vessels suspected of belonging to Moscow's so-called shadow fleet. "This is nothing less than piracy and robbery," Putin said during drills by Russia's Pacific Fleet on August 12, referring to Europe's plans to tighten measures against vessels suspected of helping Moscow evade Western sanctions. According to European media reports, Swedish court documents showed that Stockholm was planning to transfer to Kyiv a seized Russian ship suspected of transporting grain from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. Kyiv has sought to curb Russia's ability to finance the war by calling for strict sanctions against its energy sector. Among other things, the bill -- which has yet to be approved by the US House of Representatives -- targets Russia's shadow fleet, including vessels, owners, operators, insurers, ports, and other intermediaries involved in transporting Russian oil and sanctioned goods.