Russia Issues Stern Warning to Europe Over Potential Asset Seizure

On Monday, Russia warned European nations that it would retaliate against any country attempting to seize its frozen assets, following reports that the European Union is considering using Russian funds to support Ukraine’s defence efforts.

In response to President Vladimir Putin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and its allies froze an estimated $300–$350 billion in Russian sovereign assets, including holdings in European, U.S., and British government bonds, largely kept in a European securities depository.

According to a Reuters report, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is exploring options for using the cash yields generated by these frozen Russian assets to help finance Ukraine’s military needs. Politico also reported that the Commission is evaluating the idea of utilizing Russian deposits at the European Central Bank—particularly from maturing bonds—to fund a so-called “Reparations Loan” for Ukraine.

Reacting to these developments, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a harsh warning via Telegram, vowing that Russia would target any EU nation or officials involved in such moves. “We will pursue the EU states, Brussels bureaucrats, and individual countries that try to seize our assets until the end of the century,” wrote Medvedev, who now serves as Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council.

He added that Russia would challenge any such actions “by all available means” — through international courts, national courts, and even outside of legal processes.

The Russian government maintains that any confiscation of its state assets would constitute outright theft and could severely damage global confidence in Western financial systems, particularly in European and U.S. bonds and currencies.