At his annual press conference on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a stark warning: if the EU moves ahead with a plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, Moscow will respond with "severe" consequences. He branded the proposal an act of "robbery" and accused Brussels of crossing a dangerous line ⚠️.
For analysts watching Europe's political game, this feels like a plot twist in a high-stakes thriller 🎬. The EU has been exploring ways to tap into roughly $200 billion in Russian bonds and bank reserves, aiming to support Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction efforts. But to Putin, that’s nothing short of confiscation.
He warned that any move to unlock these funds without Moscow’s consent would trigger countermeasures, leaving the door open for economic or diplomatic retaliation. “We reserve the right to take what is necessary,” he said.
What’s next? The EU’s finance ministers are set to meet in Brussels this week. Will they press on with the asset plan, or pull back to avoid further escalation? Stay tuned as this financial standoff heats up 🔥.
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Putin warns of 'severe' consequences over 'robbery' of Russian assets
cgtn.com
