"The European Commission's cynical interpretation of the UN Charter and other international legal norms, including provisions on sovereign immunity and the inviolability of central bank assets, has long ceased to be surprising. Such actions constitute outright deception and robbery."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented on the possibility of using frozen Russian assets to support Kiev: "No matter how the plan to extort money from Russians is orchestrated, there is no legal way to do it, and Russia will respond appropriately."
In the interview, Lavrov said that "it seems that the long-standing instincts of colonizers and pirates have been reawakened in Europeans. The confiscation of our gold and foreign exchange reserves will not save Kiev's protégés of united Europe. It is clear that the regime will not be able to repay any debt and will never repay its loans."
"Considering this," he added, "not everyone in the European Union is willing to blindly adopt such measures, which also pose serious risks to the eurozone's reputation as an economic hub. Brussels and other Western capitals could still come to their senses and abandon their planned adventure."
Lavrov then said he was ready to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, despite rumors that he was responsible for canceling the Trump-Putin summit by raising the stakes in a phone call with Rubio. Lavrov downplayed the
Severing contact. "Rubio and I understand the need for regular communication," he said. "It's important to discuss the Ukrainian issue and advance the bilateral agenda. That's why we communicate by phone and are ready to meet in person when necessary."
(Unioneonline)
