Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized European Union leaders in his annual TV address, accusing them of committing “burglary.” His remarks were directed at European countries who sought to utilize Russia’s frozen assets to support the Ukrainian military. Putin deemed this action as theft and warned of severe consequences for the perpetrators. The EU recently approved a 90 billion Euro loan to assist Ukraine’s defense efforts.
While several European leaders advocated for using the approximately 200 billion euros of Russian assets frozen in EU nations to aid Ukraine, legal issues in Belgium, where a significant portion of the assets is held, led to the decision to opt for the loan instead.
Putin condemned the EU’s move to finance Ukraine, labeling the involved countries as “burglars” targeting Russian assets and emphasizing the potential repercussions. He predicted that the loan would pose significant financial challenges for EU member states. Additionally, Putin asserted that Russia would seek legal recourse in a jurisdiction free from political influence.
The Russian President asserted that Europe would eventually have to return what it takes from Russian assets. He also claimed that Russia’s financial position, particularly regarding national debt, surpasses that of France.