Russia Warns: Strict Measures Against Baltic Navigation Restrictions

The spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, warned that any attempts by European countries to restrict the passage of Russian ships through the Baltic Strait will be met with a strict response. Zakharova emphasized that "any attempts to restrict the navigation rights of Russian ships will be considered another unfriendly step followed by severe retaliatory measures." She explained that "the passage of ships is regulated by the Copenhagen Treaty of 1857 and the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982." The Russian Foreign Ministry mentioned in April that Sweden's plans to establish a NATO base on Gotland Island are provocative activities, warning that the Baltic Sea, which has been peaceful, could turn into a "theater of geopolitical confrontation." On another note, the Russian Foreign Ministry pointed out that "the U.S. reaction to pro-Palestinian protests contradicts its own laws regarding freedoms."