Russia warns US and Europe over reports Ukraine may get its seized assets
Kremlin threatens ‘serious consequences’ if there is an unprecedented seizure of Russian assets held abroad
The Kremlin has threatened Europe and the US with “serious consequences”, including tit-for-tat financial seizures or even a break in diplomatic relations, if Russian assets held abroad are given to aid the Ukrainian budget and war effort.
A spokesperson for Vladimir Putin told reporters on Friday that if the Biden administration and European leaders planned to seize Russian central bank assets believed to be in excess of $300bn (£236bn) that were frozen after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, they should “realise that Russia will never leave those who do it alone”.
The New York Times reported on Thursday that the Biden administration had begun urgent discussions with G7 nations on how it could plan the unprecedented seizure of the funds, which are mostly believed to be held in Europe, and whether the funds could be spent directly on the Ukrainian military effort or just for reconstruction and budgetary use.
Oooo, look at us shaking in our boots. Putin can go to his bunker and shoot himself in the face.
Why not? He's speedrunning the rest of Hitler's failures, after all.
How many "serious consequences" are we up to now?
No you don't understand. The 428th you cross our red line we'll respond!
Irony is dead.
Was going to say Russia says this, Russia says that but still far they haven't followed up on any of it.
I mean, they invaded Ukraine and this was exactly the kind of thing people said about that in the weeks preceding the invasion. You're probably right but the point is that you never really know what an authoritarian will do, especially when their back is against the wall.
Let's say Putin wants to invade the West. What imaginary army would he use to do this, considering the one he has is stuck in Ukraine?
If he tries to use nukes to deal with sanctions his non suicidal generals will throw him out of the Kremlin window.
Funny, given Russia has been seizing western assets in Russia since the war started.
Yes, please, inflict consequences on us. Go tit-for-tat. Seize all foreign assets remaining in Russia. That would hurt us so much. Please don't throw us in that briar patch!
Punish the corporations that haven't complied with our sanctions? Heaven forfend
You mean, besides the planes he already stole?
Frankly if he wants to steal from the snakes still doing business in Russia, I'd applaud it. It'd be some good leopards eating my face material.
I’d be surprised if he hasn’t already, actually.
Putin, when have you ever left us alone before? Ukraine left you alone. It didn't work out so well for them. Why should we think we'd get any different treatment?
This sounds great. Russia takes Ukraine’s shit, so NATO gives Ukraine Russia’s shit. NATO wants to fund defense, nationalists don’t want to spend tax payer’s dollars, and this gives everyone what they want. Sounds like a win win.
Oooh no you’ll seize our assets. But you did that already when you decided to appropriate literally hundreds of western airliners. Literally billions in airframes.
Aspirate on a satchel of Richards, vova.
Someone should tell them tit-for-tat means equivalent. You can't go tit-for-tat when your tits don't match their tats and your tats don't measure up to their tits.
He's got no assets to seize (already seized the western assets he could) and his diplomats are a fucking liability snapping photos of our lawmakers with hookers and drugs.
His threats sound more like favors. It's like he's asking countries to take Russian assets and offering free blowies along with.
They did a full circle it seems
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%27s_final_warning
Go fuck yourself, Putin.
If you fuck off home and pay Ukraine for the damage you've done then we'll give it back.
If it hurts the Kremlin, it must be done
Dude is still pissed off Epstein isn't around anymore to buy Russian teenagers.
oh noes
LOL, fuck off clown, your shitty little gas station can barely exert power over Ukraine.
I guess the story of the nasty little despot who cried wolf never made it to Russia.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The Kremlin has threatened Europe and the US with “serious consequences”, including tit-for-tat financial seizures or even a break in diplomatic relations, if Russian assets held abroad are given to aid the Ukrainian budget and war effort.
A spokesperson for Vladimir Putin told reporters on Friday that if the Biden administration and European leaders planned to seize Russian central bank assets believed to be in excess of $300bn (£236bn) that were frozen after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, they should “realise that Russia will never leave those who do it alone”.
In an indication that European nations may be ready to sign on to the strategy, prosecutors in Germany said this week that they were applying to confiscate more than €720m (£624m) from the Frankfurt bank account of a Russian financial institution.
The US Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, said the US would “not hesitate to use the new tools provided by this authority to take decisive and surgical action.” It would also affect the exports of diamonds and seafood, both of which originate in Russia but are mostly processed outside of the country.
Sergei Ryabkov, a deputy foreign minister, said he did “not want to dwell on negative scenarios”, but suggested that an asset seizure could serve as the “trigger for a possible outbreak of confrontation that may potentially lead to breaking off relations”.
The Ukrainian government had previously called on its supporters in the west to seize Russian assets to create a reconstruction fund for Ukraine, but the Biden administration has demurred, with Yellen saying in 2022 that the seizure was “not something that is legally permissible in the United States” without an act of Congress.
The original article contains 778 words, the summary contains 282 words. Saved 64%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
Bring it on, Blofeld.
(supremely unconcerned pikachu face)
Fuck off, blyat.