Russian officials issued a stern warning to the West on Sunday, cautioning against any attempts to confiscate frozen Russian assets and threatening severe consequences along with relentless legal battles and retaliatory actions.
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, asserted that Russia would never entertain the idea of relinquishing territories seized from Ukraine in exchange for the release of frozen assets. Emphasizing Russia’s stance, Zakharova declared on the Telegram messaging app, “Our motherland is not for sale,” and insisted that Russian assets must remain untouched to avoid triggering a harsh response to what she termed as “Western thievery.” While acknowledging that many in the West have grasped this reality, she lamented that not everyone has.
In response to Russia’s military involvement in Ukraine, the United States and its allies imposed sanctions prohibiting transactions with Russia’s central bank and finance ministry, resulting in the blocking of approximately $300 billion of sovereign Russian assets in Western financial institutions, predominantly in Europe rather than the United States.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov echoed Zakharova’s sentiments, highlighting that a significant amount of Western funds remains invested in Russia, making them potential targets for Moscow’s retaliatory measures. Peskov emphasized the ample opportunities for legal challenges against any attempts to seize Russian assets, asserting that Russia would vigorously defend its interests through all available means.
The statements from Russian officials underscore the heightened tensions between Russia and the West amid ongoing geopolitical disputes and sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
