Peskov calls Ukraine's receipt of income from frozen Russian assets theft

Kremlin spokesman Dmitriy Peskov on 25 December commented on Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal's statement that Ukraine had received revenues from frozen Russian assets from the USA and called it theft.

The day before, Shmygal wrote in his Telegram channel that Ukraine received $1 billion at the expense of frozen Russian assets, adding that it was the first tranche of the planned $20 billion that the United States is ready to allocate through the use of immobilized Russian assets within the framework of the G7 initiative.

"This money is stolen from us, and those of our holdings that are blocked are also blocked illegally. This contradicts all norms and rules," Peskov said.

According to the Russian presidential spokesman, such illegal actions may later become a reason for legal prosecution by Russia.

"We will, of course, use subsequently all possibilities to protect our rights and our property rights," he added.

Andrei Klimov, deputy chairman of the Federation Council's (SF) Committee on International Affairs, had on the eve called for the launch of inspections and civil and criminal proceedings after the transfer of $1 billion from Russian assets to Ukraine. The senator is convinced that despite the transfer to Ukraine only the interest that has accumulated since the arrest of Russian assets in 2022, from the point of view of international law it can be considered theft.

Earlier, on November 26, French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu said that France intended to supply Ukraine with anti-aircraft missiles and other weapons through the proceeds from frozen Russian assets. Also in November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (his term expired on May 20) called Russian assets frozen by the West as Ukrainian money. He urged to find a mechanism to transfer them to Kiev as soon as possible.

On October 23, the EU Council approved a €35bn loan to Ukraine with repayment from Russia's frozen assets. It was specified that it is the EU's contribution to the G7 loan of up to €45bn. The loan will have a maximum repayment period of 45 years.

Western countries have increased military and financial support for Kiev against the background of the special operation of the Russian Federation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, after the aggravation of the situation in the region due to shelling by the Ukrainian military. The EU soon approved the decision to freeze the assets of the Russian Central Bank.