Russia "Will Retaliate" Against Any Seizure of Its Assets in the West

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that "Russia will never leave any country that seizes its assets without a response," adding that "this will lead to considering the Western assets that could be confiscated in retaliation." This comment from the Kremlin comes in response to discussions in the West, where some politicians have proposed handing over frozen Russian assets worth up to $300 billion to Ukraine. Peskov noted that "any step of this kind would deal a serious blow to the global financial system, and Russia will defend its rights in courts and through other means if this occurs." He also pointed out that "his country is preparing improvements to its immigration system," following warnings from the head of the Orthodox Church about threats to the country's identity. Peskov remarked that "immigration is an important issue, and a series of guidelines are being prepared to strengthen the existing system." Most migrants to Russia come from Central Asian countries that were previously part of the former Soviet Union.