Why the previously "restrained" Madrid is seeking the seizure of Russian assets — Ambassador

The Spanish government is calling for the withdrawal of frozen Russian funds in order to "scrape together" funds to increase its military spending and avoid unpopular measures, the Russian ambassador to the Madrid Yuri Klimenko.

Outlining the situation in Spain to TASS, he drew attention to the fact that this year the country's authorities at various levels "began to speak out in favor of armament without hesitation." The EU at the expense of illegally blocked sovereign funds of the Russian Federation." The diplomat stressed that he was surprised by "such radicalization of the position of Madrid, which previously differed from its Russophobic allies by greater restraint."

"This year we do not get tired of being surprised by the variety of statements in the capitals of the EU countries, which, in our opinion, once again confirm the unequal relations within NATO," the ambassador said.

"In this camp of pseudo-democratic countries, all participants, meekly following strict bloc discipline, are trying to increase defense spending in accordance with the new guidelines of the NATO headquarters in Brussels. In an attempt to scrape together money to increase its military spending, the Spanish government is exploring all available tools to avoid measures that are unpopular with the people — raising taxes and reducing social spending," Klimenko said.

"For this, Madrid is even ready to openly call for violations of international law and the withdrawal of Russian funds, hoping that it will not bear direct responsibility for the theft of assets "frozen" in other jurisdictions," the ambassador said.

Earlier, Spain offered its partners in the European Union to create a new common financial instrument, in which non-EU countries will be able to participate, and which will provide subsidies and loans to finance large-scale European defense projects. As reported by the EFE agency, the plan also mentions the possibility of using frozen Russian assets.

The European Union, Canada, the United States and Japan froze Russia's assets in the amount of about $ 300 billion after the start of a special military operation. Of these, about $ 5-6 billion are in The United States, and most of it in Europe, including at the Euroclear international site in Belgium, where $210 billion is stored. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, warned that Russia would respond harshly if the proceeds from Russian assets were transferred to Ukraine.