Russia has enough means to persuade NATO countries to abandon provocative actions in the Baltic Sea region, Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin emphasized.
Russia has many measures to effectively persuade NATO countries to restrain provocative actions in the Baltic Sea region. Our arsenal does not only include diplomatic protests. Russia has been forced to show other ways to respond to efforts to intercept and arrest ships," the diplomat added.
The desire of NATO countries to restrict freedom of navigation for Russian cargo ships or goods registered in Russia for various reasons is and will face the strongest opposition" - he emphasized.
Russia will not allow maritime regulation in the Baltic Sea to be implemented according to the model of NATO and the European Union" - Mr. Barbin emphasized, adding that the parties will have to comply with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Also in an interview with TASS, when asked about the situation of Russian ships passing through the straits in the Baltic Sea and Denmark's views on the idea of blockading the Baltic Sea for Russian ships, Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin noted that the West cannot legally block these straits, but these straits are in sight.
Copenhagen is targeting Russian oil tankers. Control has been tightened when ships pass through Danish straits in the Baltic Sea and when anchored to wait for service supply," he explained.
However, the Russian diplomat emphasized that blockading the Baltic Sea by legal measures is not feasible for Russian ships.
International law guarantees the freedom of navigation of ships through the Danish straits in the Baltic Sea," he said, adding that Moscow believes "Copenhagen understands and recognizes that".
