Kremlin: Seizing Frozen Russian Assets Would Lead To Retaliation

Wires carrying comments from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on issues related to US Congress’ likely authorisation of new aid to Ukraine.

• Peskov said that additional military aid to Ukraine, “will not change the situation at the front,” rather, “lead to more losses for Ukraine,” and noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin “expected” the decision.
• Peskov notes that, “a large part of US support for Ukraine will remain in the United States,” echoing an argument from the Biden administration to Republican lawmakers ahead of the vote.
• Biden told reporters in February: “While this bill sends military equipment to Ukraine. It spends the money right here in the United States of America...”
• Peskov also warns that Congressional support for seizing frozen Russian assets, “is a dangerous precedent” and any such “illegal” action will, “lead to retaliation and court proceedings.”
• Along with foreign aid, the House also passed theREPO Act, a bill which would empower the President to seize Russian assets to aid Ukraine. The legislation gives the administration six months to declare how much is frozen in the US – understood to be significantly less than the roughly USD$300 billion frozen in Europe.
• ECB President Christine Lagarde warned in Washington last week that confiscation of Russian assets needs to be looked at “very carefully,” because it would, “start breaking the international legal order that you want to protect...”
• The Atlantic Council notesthat, according to experts, seizure "can be done without undermining the international financial system and the role the dollar plays in that system."