Germans – against expropriation of Russian assets – Respublika.lt

This is how she commented on the publication of “The Wall Street Journal” (WSJ), in which it is written that Germany spoke against the expropriation of Russian assets.

Berlin claims that these funds cannot be touched now, which would allow them to be used later as a tool to pressure Russia to end the conflict and return the occupied territories.

“The assets will not be transferred to the territories. Russian assets must remain untouched, because otherwise the theft committed by the West will receive a severe response”, M. Zakharova wrote on the Telegram channel.

In 2022, Russia annexed occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson after holding a pseudo-referendum. Most of the world this year, as in 2014. considers the referendum, after which Russia annexed Crimea, illegal.

Moscow claims that the issue of territorial dependence has been resolved.

The WSJ cited more reasons for Berlin’s reluctance to touch Russian money, including the “ghost of World War II.”

Germans fear that such a measure could set a precedent and encourage new lawsuits against Germany for crimes committed in World War II.

Although reparations have already been paid out to the affected parties, recently there has been increasing talk of additional payments. Poland, Greece and Italy want them.

The Germans reply that her post-war benefits and 1990 the treaty that fixed the country’s borders after reunification solved the problem.

Then the document was signed by the USSR and the USA, Greece, Italy and Poland did not participate in it. in 2004 After becoming a member of the EU, Poland refused the previous compensation claims.

Slawomir Debski, head of the “Pism” analytical center, named another reason.

According to him, the position of Germany can be influenced by the 272 German companies still operating in Russia.

The WSJ pointed out that Berlin has only now approved the use of profits generated by frozen Russian assets.

Russian assets worth 260 billion have been frozen in the G7 countries, the EU and Australia. euros.

According to Moscow, the amount reaches 300 billion. US dollars. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that expropriating the assets would lead to retaliation and lawsuits.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminded that a number of funds of Western countries are stored on the territory of Russia, which may be subject to similar practices.