Putin slams West over asset seizure: This is robbery in broad daylight

WISE NEWS PRESS / MOSCOW, RUSSIA — DEC. 20, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a stern warning to Western governments during his traditional year-end press conference, describing the European Union's efforts to seize Russian assets for Ukraine as "robbery in broad daylight."

During the marathon 4.5-hour session, Putin addressed issues ranging from domestic policy to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He argued that the seizure of sovereign assets would irreversibly damage trust in the Eurozone. "Theft is not even the right term; they are trying to take it openly. This will hit the credibility of foreign reserves worldwide, especially for oil-producing nations. Eventually, they will have to return what they stole," Putin remarked.

"NATO's eastward expansion caused the crisis"

Putin blamed NATO and Western politicians for the escalation of the conflict, citing the alliance's eastward expansion as a primary breach of trust. He claimed that Western leaders created a "Russian enemy" image to distract their own citizens from economic and social policy failures. "We have no plans to attack Europe; that is nonsense. If we are not deceived as we were with NATO expansion, and if we are treated with respect, there will be no need for further military operations," he stated.

Warnings on Kaliningrad and the front line

The Russian leader also addressed the situation surrounding Kaliningrad, warning that any attempt by Eastern European nations to blockade the city would escalate the conflict to an unprecedented level of military confrontation. On the battlefield, Putin noted that 700,000 Russian troops are currently deployed in the special operation zone. While expressing a desire for a sustainable peace agreement in 2025, he emphasized that Kiev must first address the root causes of the crisis before any meaningful dialogue can commence.

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