Russia's Warning Amid Ukraine Conflict: Prepared to Respond if West Seizes Frozen Assets, Predicts Europe Will Bear Brunt

 

A prominent associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned on Tuesday that Russia stands prepared to retaliate if nearly $300 billion in frozen Russian assets are confiscated by Western powers and diverted to support Ukraine.

 

Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the Russian upper house of parliament and a member of Russia’s Security Council, conveyed to state news agency RIA Novosti that Europe is cognizant of the potential for a robust and proportional response from Russia. Matviyenko indicated that a draft legislation outlining response measures has been formulated, though she refrained from specifying the exact nature of these retaliatory actions. Nevertheless, she asserted that Europe stands to incur greater losses than Russia in such a scenario.

 

Regarding the contentious proposal to seize frozen Russian assets abroad, a Russian lawmaker remarked on Monday that Western officials have not yet reached a consensus. The bulk of these assets, approximately $224 billion, are situated in the European Union, with only a fraction, around $5 to $6 billion, located in the United States.

 

Meanwhile, disputes persist between Ukraine and Russia over territorial claims. On Monday, Russia's Defense Ministry asserted its forces had seized control of the village of Novomykhailivka, situated approximately 25 miles southwest of Donetsk. However, Ukrainian officials rebuffed this claim, affirming that Ukraine still maintains control over the settlement and continues to defend it.

 

Additionally, Russia declared on Sunday its capture of Bohdanivka, located northeast of Chasiv Yar, marking another recent territorial acquisition according to Russian assertions.