Putin's Strong Response to EU Actions
During a televised question-and-answer session in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin sharply criticized the European Union's recent move to support Ukraine with substantial financial aid. He described the EU's effort to utilize Russian state reserves as an attempted "robbery" that has not succeeded at this time.
Putin emphasized that Russia will persistently protect its national interests and work towards establishing politically independent judicial bodies. These courts would handle claims for the return of billions in state funds that have been frozen within the EU. "Whatever they steal, at some point it must be returned," Putin stated on Friday.
The Russian leader's comments came in reaction to inquiries about the EU's overnight decision to provide Ukraine with €90 billion ($105.4 billion) through interest-free loans. Putin noted that this lending initiative has increased the debt burden for EU member states, including France.
Furthermore, Putin warned that the EU's pursuit of accessing Russian state assets could severely damage confidence in global financial markets. He expressed concern that such actions undermine the stability and trust essential for international economic systems.
Despite the EU's agreement on the aid package for Ukraine, a proposal by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to use frozen Russian funds for this purpose was unsuccessful. Putin addressed these developments during his annual interactive broadcast, fielding questions from both journalists and citizens across Russia.
