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.

  • carbonprop@lemmy.ca
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    6 months ago

    Oooo, look at us shaking in our boots. Putin can go to his bunker and shoot himself in the face.

    • Nommer@sh.itjust.works
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      6 months ago

      Was going to say Russia says this, Russia says that but still far they haven’t followed up on any of it.

      • krashmo@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        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.

        • jmcs
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          6 months ago

          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.

  • NOT_RICK@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Funny, given Russia has been seizing western assets in Russia since the war started.

  • PugJesus@kbin.social
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    6 months ago

    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!

  • Justin@lemmy.jlh.name
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    6 months ago

    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.

  • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    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”.

    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?

  • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    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.

  • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works
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    6 months ago

    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.

  • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    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.

  • uphillbothways@kbin.social
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    6 months ago

    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.

  • Skua@kbin.social
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    6 months ago

    If you fuck off home and pay Ukraine for the damage you’ve done then we’ll give it back.

  • fubo@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Dude is still pissed off Epstein isn’t around anymore to buy Russian teenagers.