Dmitry Medvedev has warned Moscow could seize “valuables of the British Crown” in revenge for the UK utilizing frozen Russian belongings to fund army assist for Ukraine.
The previous Russian president, a key ally of Vladimir Putin, issued the warning after Britain introduced a package deal of round £1bn for Kyiv’s struggle effort on Wednesday.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated the package deal was paid for by frozen Russian belongings.
In a message shared from his Telegram account, Mr Medvedev, who’s deputy chairman of Russia’s safety council, stated Moscow might seize British belongings and take extra Ukrainian territory in response to the transfer.
He additionally referred to British International Secretary David Lammy as “the English fool”.
Mr Medvedev wrote: “British thieves transferred Russian cash to neo-Nazis. Penalties? Britain dedicated an offence.”
He added that Russia would reply to “any unlawful seizure of frozen Russian funds or earnings” by seizing the “valuables of the British Crown” together with British property in Russia.
In response to Russian belongings being frozen by the UK, Mr Medvedev wrote: “On condition that the cash can’t be recovered in courtroom for apparent causes, our nation has just one option to return the property: return it in variety. That’s ‘Ukrainian land’ and different immovable and movable property situated on it.”
The UK and different Western allies have been imposing sanctions on Moscow and seizing Russian belongings since Mr Putin ordered his forces to invade Ukraine in February 2022.
On Wednesday, Britain introduced it was imposing sanctions on 11 people and entities it claims have been linked with Moscow’s alleged makes an attempt to forcibly deport and indoctrinate Ukrainian youngsters.
Trump says Europe should put stress on China
In the meantime, US President Donald Trump joined a name at a summit of Ukraine’s allies in Paris on Thursday.
A White Home official has stated Mr Trump “emphasised that Europe should cease buying Russian oil that’s funding the struggle”.
The official stated Moscow obtained €1.1bn in gasoline gross sales from the EU in a single yr and added: “(Mr Trump) additionally emphasised that European leaders should place financial stress on China for funding Russia’s struggle efforts.”
It got here after French President Emmanuel Macron stated on the summit that 26 of Ukraine’s allies have pledged to deploy troops as a “reassurance drive” for the war-torn nation as soon as preventing ends within the battle with Russia.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and Emmanuel Macron in Paris for Thursday’s coalition of the prepared assembly. Pic: Reuters
Talking after a gathering of the so-called “coalition of the prepared” in Paris, Mr Macron stated the international locations had dedicated to deploying troops in Ukraine – or to sustaining a presence on land, at sea, or within the air – to assist assure the nation’s safety the day after a ceasefire or peace is achieved.
Earlier on Thursday, Mr Macron and different European leaders met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the the US envoy for peace talks, Steve Witkoff, to debate methods of guaranteeing long-term army assist and continued American backing for Ukraine as soon as the battle ends.
Mr Zelenskyy’s workplace stated he had additionally held a closed-door assembly with Mr Witkoff.
Mr Macron stated at a information convention alongside Mr Zelenskyy that the reassurance drive “doesn’t have the need or the target of waging struggle towards Russia”, however will purpose “to forestall any new main aggression and to contain the 26 states very clearly within the lasting safety of Ukraine”.
Though particulars of any US participation within the safety ensures stays unclear, each Mr Macron and Mr Zelenskyy stated Washington had expressed willingness to be a part of the plan, and the Ukrainian president stated he was grateful for that.
“As for in what format, I’m not but able to let you know intimately,” Mr Zelenskyy added.
Who’s Trump listening to on Ukraine?
The Ukrainian president additionally stated in Paris that he would “particularly prefer to thank President Trump for all his efforts to finish this struggle and America’s readiness to supply assist for Ukraine from its aspect”.
“The planning work shall be finalised with america,” Mr Macron stated.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Macron, who lead the “coalition of the prepared”, beforehand insisted that any European “reassurance” drive in Ukraine wanted the backing of america.
‘Two killed in Russian strike’
In developments on the battlefield, Russia claimed on Thursday that its forces destroyed a launch website for Ukraine’s long-range drones within the Chernihiv area.
This has not been independently verified.
Earlier on Thursday, Ukrainian officers stated a Russian missile strike on a humanitarian demining mission close to the town of Chernihiv had killed two folks.
In the meantime, Ukraine has been focusing on Russia’s oil refining capability, with the latest strikes coming final weekend.
Round 11% of Russia’s refining capability has been affected in complete thus far.
