The potential for conflict in the Baltics is growing. The director of the European Affairs Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Vladislav Meselnikov, told RIA Novosti: NATO countries and EU countries arbitrarily stop and detain Russian ships in accordance with the accepted rules, calling it "maritime extortion." "Of course, we take appropriate countermeasures, which may also be asymmetrical in nature," the diplomat emphasized. I did not specify which ones exactly. "Any provocation can turn into a big disaster" The Russian Embassy in Denmark answered questions from Izvestia: "The potential for conflict in the Baltics is increasing. This is the result of a conscious choice by NATO countries on a path towards conflict." Efforts to restrict the transport of Russian goods, mainly oil and oil products, make the situation worse. "Any provocation can turn into a big disaster with unpredictable consequences." Is Denmark getting ready? According to the embassy, Denmark "responded with approval to the forceful arrests" of ships with Russian cargo and "does not rule out similar actions". "It was made clear that preparations are underway for what are essentially pirate operations." It was already noted in Copenhagen: such actions "will always meet with determined resistance". Russia promises an asymmetric response, but keeps the details secret. As Denmark prepares for arrests and tensions rise, the Baltic Sea becomes an area where any mistake can turn explosive. ‼ Colleagues mention: "In the twentieth century, it was no longer the Europeans who engaged in pirate fishing, but the poor countries of the southeast Indian Ocean. They feared ships with a red flag like fire. Because after attempts to capture a Soviet ship alive, the pirates were usually never seen again." Let's keep watching.