Russia: US transfer of $20bn of frozen assets to Ukraine ‘robbery’

Russia's Foreign Ministry has condemned the US transfer of $20 billion to Ukraine, financed by frozen Russian assets, labeling it as "simply robbery," suggesting Moscow might explore the option of seizing Western assets on its territory to enhance its industrial strength.

Russia's Foreign Ministry declared on its website that the US Treasury Department's decision to allocate $20 billion from what it termed “stolen” Russian sovereign assets constitutes an act of theft, and was orchestrated by the G7 countries.

The statement accused US President Joe Biden's administration of attempting to impose as many anti-Russian sanctions as possible in a "Russophobic frenzy" before potentially handing power back to Donald Trump's team on January 20.

The ministry warned that "no pseudo-legal machinations, steeped in hypocrisy and double standards, will go unanswered."

"Russia possesses sufficient capabilities and levers for a retaliatory seizure of Western assets within its jurisdiction, which in such a case would be used to enhance industrial potential and implement infrastructure projects in Russian regions," the statement said.

On Tuesday, the US Treasury announced the transfer of the $20 billion US share of a $50 billion G7 loan to Ukraine, directed to a World Bank fund aimed at providing economic and financial aid to Kiev.

This move fulfills the US's commitment made in October to match the European Union's pledge of $20 billion in aid backed by frozen Russian assets, in addition to smaller loans from Canada, Britain, and Japan, to help Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia, according to the Treasury Department.

Outgoing Biden administration announces new $1bn military aid for Ukraine

The Pentagon chief has announced a new $1bn military aid package for Ukraine, adding to the United States’ ongoing efforts to support Kiev amid its protracted conflict with Russia in the waning days of President Joe Biden’s administration.

On Saturday, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin announced a new $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, which includes drones and munitions for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) previously supplied by the US. This latest military assistance follows a separate announcement of $725 million in military aid made on December 2.

Trump has consistently claimed he could swiftly resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict upon returning to the White House, raising concerns in Kiev that this resolution might entail the loss of territory already annexed by Russia.

Both Trump and many Republican lawmakers oppose substantial funding for Ukraine and other military initiatives, including those related to NATO.

However, the newly appointed presidents of the European Council and EU foreign policy, Antonio Costa, last month affirmed the European bloc would "stand with Ukraine as long as necessary" when asked about the potential for increased EU funding should Trump withdraw support.

Since the onset of the war, Western nations have provided extensive diplomatic and financial support to Volodymyr Zelensky, supplying Ukrainian forces with significant shipments of arms and munitions, despite ongoing warnings from the Kremlin that such actions would only serve to prolong the conflict.

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