Reuters did not rule out unfreezing Western assets in Russia after Trump's arrival
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's rise to power may lead to the unfreezing of Western assets in Russia. This was reported by Reuters on January 20, citing a survey of 15 lawyers, bankers and business representatives.
"While the Kremlin continues to raise the costs of exiting the Russian market, Trump could lower the costs of staying, creating a kind of stagnation," the publication said.
Partner of Debevoise and Plimpton Alan Kartashkin did not rule out a partial easing of sanctions by the new US administration if an agreement is reached to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. According to him, this will lead to unfreezing of foreign assets in Russia. Thus, companies that wanted to leave the Russian market earlier will be able to leave.
Another Reuters source noted that firms may decide to stay in Russia if the international situation improves,Gazeta.Ruadded.
Earlier, on December 5, 2024, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said that Russia, in response to the actions of the West, would also use income from the assets of Western countries, but for the development and support of its regions. He reminded that the West is now using interest on income from frozen Russian assets, not the bulk of gold and foreign exchange reserves.
On the eve, Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out that Western countries have not yet made the last step to finally steal its assets. Now the gold and foreign currency reserves of the Russian Federation in the United States in the European Union only blocked, Moscow was forced to take retaliatory measures, reminded the head of state.
Before that, on November 20, Siluanov warned that Russia would use the proceeds from the frozen assets of the West as retaliatory measures. Then he noted that the decisions will be implemented after receiving information about unfriendly actions.
Western countries stepped up military and financial support for Kiev amid Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, which Putin announced on February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military. The EU soon approved the decision to freeze the assets of the Russian Central Bank.
