The Kremlin on Thursday described the transfer of profits from frozen Russian assets in Europe to Ukraine as “theft.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated during a press briefing that these actions are illegal and will have legal consequences, labeling it as the expropriation and theft of Russian assets.
Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced that the European Union has transferred windfall profits from frozen Russian assets to Kyiv, totaling €1.4 billion (about $1.5 billion). The 27-member bloc agreed in May to use profits from approximately $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to finance arms purchases for Ukraine.
The assets were frozen following Russia’s launch of a “special military operation” in Ukraine in February 2022.