Kremlin threatens 'mirror confiscation' of US assets - Manipulation exposed
Illustrative photo: Central Bank of Russia (website of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation)
Russian propaganda is pushing a new element of economic blackmail and threatening so-called "mirror confiscation" of American assets, according to the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation claimed it was supposedly ready for "countermeasures" in response to US steps regarding frozen russian reserves. After that, manipulations appeared in the media space about possible Washington losses amounting to 6.6 billion dollars, a sum Russia calls "compensation."
In reality, these threats are purely political, the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) assures. Russia has no economic mechanisms for a full confiscation of US assets. Back in 2022, it blocked the withdrawal of assets belonging to "unfriendly" countries.
"The main goal of the Kremlin is to disrupt the international process of using russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine, intimidate allies, and push them toward a more ‘cautious’ policy," the CCD publication states.
Thus, analysts of the Center are convinced that Moscow seeks to influence the position of Washington and its partners by imposing scenarios favorable to Russia regarding frozen reserves.
"The Kremlin uses economic threats to sow division, block decisions on assets, and weaken support for Ukraine," the CCD emphasizes.
Confiscation of Russian assets
However, the EU has not yet reached a consensus on this issue. Belgium, the country where most of Russia’s frozen assets are held, opposes the idea. Brussels fears possible lawsuits and penalties from Russia.
At the same time, the EU has begun exploring alternative initiatives to finance Ukraine while the "reparations loan" remains unapproved.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is urging its European allies to make a political decision already in December to issue a 163-billion-dollar "reparations loan" based on Russia’s frozen assets.
