Dmitry Medvedev has warned Moscow could seize “valuables of the British Crown” in revenge for the UK utilizing frozen Russian property to fund navy help 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 property.
In a message shared from his Telegram account, Mr Medvedev, who’s deputy chairman of Russia’s safety council, stated Moscow might seize British property and take extra Ukrainian territory in response to the transfer.
He additionally referred to British Overseas Secretary David Lammy as “the English idiot”.
Mr Medvedev wrote: “British thieves transferred Russian money to neo-Nazis. Consequences? Britain committed an offence.”
He added that Russia would reply to “any illegal seizure of frozen Russian funds or profits” by seizing the “valuables of the British Crown” together with British property in Russia.
In response to Russian property being frozen by the UK, Mr Medvedev wrote: “Given that the money cannot be recovered in court for obvious reasons, our country has only one way to return the valuables: return it in kind. That is ‘Ukrainian land’ and other immovable and movable property located on it.”
The UK and different Western allies have been imposing sanctions on Moscow and seizing Russian property 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 kids.
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 must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war”.
The official stated Moscow obtained €1.1bn in gas gross sales from the EU in a single yr and added: “(Mr Trump) also emphasised that European leaders must place economic pressure on China for funding Russia’s war 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 force” for the war-torn nation as soon as combating ends within the battle with Russia.
Picture:
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and Emmanuel Macron in Paris for Thursday’s coalition of the keen assembly. Pic: Reuters
Talking after a gathering of the so-called “coalition of the willing” in Paris, Mr Macron stated the nations 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 navy help 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.
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 am not yet ready to tell you in detail,” Mr Zelenskyy added.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
5:37
Who’s Trump listening to on Ukraine?
The Ukrainian president additionally stated in Paris that he would “especially like to thank President Trump for all his efforts to end this war and America’s readiness to provide support for Ukraine from its side”.
“The planning work will be finalised with the United States,” Mr Macron stated.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Macron, who lead the “coalition of the willing”, beforehand insisted that any European “reassurance” pressure 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 to this point.
