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The seizing and targeting of Russian civilian vessels constitute acts of\u00a0\u201cstate terrorism,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0President Vladimir Putin has said, warning that these actions are making peace talks with Ukraine more difficult.<\/p>\n Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Thursday, the Russian president denounced the recent captures of Russian civilian vessels and pointed to Kiev\u2019s threats against passenger aircraft.<\/p>\n Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky previously stated that the\u00a0\u201csafe days\u201d<\/em>\u00a0in Russian skies are over, addressing foreign airlines, insurers, and governments whose aircraft continue to use Russian airspace.<\/p>\n \u201cThis, of course, is a manifestation of state terrorism,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Putin said, adding that these actions\u00a0\u201cundoubtedly complicate the possibility of bilateral peace negotiations.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He also warned that\u00a0\u201cthose who remain silent and do not pay attention to this become accomplices in international terrorism,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0referring to Kiev\u2019s Western backers.<\/p>\n Putin\u2019s remarks came a day after the Norwegian authorities seized the Russian research vessel the Professor Molchanov in Svalbard at the request of Ukraine\u2019s state-owned Naftogaz. The ship was detained while docked in the Russian settlement of Barentsburg.<\/p>\n The Professor Molchanov is a Russian state-owned research vessel that operates regular passenger and cargo services between Murmansk and Svalbard, carrying scientists, workers, their families, tourists, and supplies to Russian settlements on the archipelago. Moscow has said the seizure will be challenged in court.<\/p>\n The detention follows a series of Western seizures of Russian-linked vessels accused of belonging to a so-called\u00a0\u201cshadow fleet,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0although the Professor Molchanov itself was seized in connection with a legal claim by Ukraine\u2019s Naftogaz against Russia. Moscow has rejected the\u00a0\u201cshadow fleet\u201d<\/em>\u00a0label as having no basis in international law and accused Western states of using sanctions as a pretext to interfere with civilian maritime trade.<\/p>\n Putin warned last month that attempts to seize Russian ships and sell their cargo amounted to\u00a0\u201cpiracy and robbery,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0saying Moscow is prepared to respond in kind in any part of the world.<\/p>\n Kiev has also stepped up attacks on civilian shipping. Putin said earlier this week that around 100 Russian merchant vessels had been damaged over a 40-day period, with sailors killed in the attacks, including Russian and foreign nationals.<\/p>\n