00:00 Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, billions in assets of Russian oligarchs have
00:04 been seized.
00:05 It's all part of sanctions levied against the country and the leadership that allowed
00:08 the unprovoked invasion to happen.
00:10 Now the US has announced that it will be giving some of those seized assets to Ukraine, and
00:15 the Kremlin has responded.
00:16 In a recent statement, Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the move illegal, adding
00:21 quote, "This is difficult to grasp.
00:24 It certainly contradicts absolutely everything that can be imagined from the point of view
00:27 of both the international and national law of these states.
00:31 But as soon as such an opportunity presents itself, we will defend our rights."
00:35 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was recently in Kiev, where he made the announcement.
00:39 According to the statement, the US will give Ukraine some $5.4 million in assets seized
00:44 from sanctioned Russian oligarchs, funds Blinken says will now be used to support Ukrainian
00:49 military veterans.
00:50 The Kremlin added that every single case of Russian asset seizure will be contested in
00:54 international court, with Peskov saying that several cases have already been won by Russian
00:59 business people in European countries.
01:01 (upbeat music)
