Putin Condemns West's 'Theft' of Russian Assets

President Vladimir Putin criticized the West's seizure of Russian sovereign assets, labeling it as theft and vowing consequences. Speaking to Foreign Ministry officials, he warned that any nation could face similar treatment. This comes as G7 leaders outline a $50 billion loan package for Ukraine, utilizing frozen Russian assets.

President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the West's seizure of Russian sovereign assets was theft and would not go unpunished.

Putin, speaking at a meeting with Foreign Ministry officials, said the way the West had treated Moscow showed that "anyone" could be next and fall victim to a similar Western asset freeze.

Putin was speaking a day after the leaders of the Group of Seven major democracies agreed on an outline deal to provide $50 billion of loans for Ukraine using interest from Russian sovereign assets frozen after Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022 in what it called a special military operation.