Putin Threatens Retaliation Over Seized Russian Assets — Calls Ukrainian Leadership "Illegal"
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow is preparing a package of retaliatory measures if European countries move to confiscate frozen Russian assets, in response to proposals by some of Ukraine’s allies to use those funds to help finance Kyiv.
Putin warned any seizure of Russian assets would amount to "theft of property" and would have a negative impact on the global financial system. He framed such actions as grounds for countermeasures from Russia.
At the same time, Putin described Ukraine’s leadership as "illegal," saying it lost legitimacy when it refused to hold elections after the elected term of President Volodymyr Zelensky expired. Kyiv maintains it cannot hold elections under martial law while defending its territory from the Russian invasion.
Putin also said Russia is ready to discuss strategic stability with the United States, including issues related to nuclear testing, and added that Moscow must be prepared for any developments in that area.
He dismissed Western media speculation that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has fallen out of favor with the Kremlin. Lavrov, 75, a long-serving diplomat known for his assertive negotiating style, was absent from a major recent Kremlin meeting he would normally attend. Putin also chose another official to represent Russia at the G20 summit in South Africa — a role Lavrov has filled in the past.
Earlier at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Kyrgyzstan, Putin said the 28-point plan put forward by Donald Trump and discussed in talks in Geneva between the US and Ukraine could serve as a basis for future agreements. He cautioned, however, that "there are no final versions" and that "some issues need discussion."
Putin added that Moscow sees the US taking some Russian positions into account, and he firmly rejected claims that Russia plans an attack on Europe, calling such assertions "ridiculous." He said Russia is ready to discuss European security and strategic stability with the West and noted that Russia has never sought to rejoin the G7.
The Russian president said he had confirmed that American negotiators are expected in Moscow next week.
On the battlefield, Putin reiterated that "if Ukrainian forces withdraw, the fighting will stop." He also claimed Russian forces are "moving faster on all fronts" and asserted that the enemy is not replenishing its forces.
