Berlin (dpa) – The Russian ambassador in Germany, Sergej Netschajew, has denounced the plans to utilize Russian assets frozen within the EU for Ukraine’s rearmament, labeling it as “theft” and warning of repercussions. “Any handling of sovereign Russian assets without Russia’s approval, regardless of the European Commission’s maneuvers, amounts to theft,” stated the ambassador in a release from the embassy.
Merz proposes interest-free loans of 140 billion euros
In a prior statement, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz reiterated his proposal regarding the utilization of Russian assets during his address in the Bundestag, which he plans to present at the upcoming EU summit in Brussels. He aims to convert the assets of the Russian central bank, currently frozen in Belgium, into interest-free loans for Ukraine, totaling 140 billion euros. The Chancellor emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin must understand that “our support for Ukraine is not decreasing, but rather increasing – and that he cannot expect to outlast us.”
Netschajew: “Null and void from an international law perspective”
Netschajew strongly cautioned against such actions, stating that “theft is a crime.” He warned that proceeding with this plan would severely damage the European Union’s reputation as a reliable custodian of sovereign financial reserves, eroding trust in the EU’s financial system and the euro, which could lead to capital flight and a deteriorating investment environment.
“Moreover, this action, which is null and void from an international law standpoint, would have repercussions, with full accountability resting on the EU and its member states,” Netschajew added, leaving the specific nature of the consequences unspecified. (October 16)
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