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EU to freeze Putin and Lavrov’s assets
Politico ^ | February 25, 2022 | Jacopo Barigazzi

Posted on 02/25/2022 1:06:05 PM PST by Loyalist

The EU will freeze the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, as part of a sanctions package set for approval Friday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell confirmed on Friday.

They will not, however, be banned from traveling to the EU, according to four diplomats.

"This is an important step," Borrell said in brief remarks, noting that the only other world leaders under EU sanctions are Bashar al-Assad in Syria and Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus.

The move comes as the EU faces pressure from Ukraine to ratchet up its penalties on Moscow, with Russian troops closing in on Kyiv and threatening to topple the government. The Financial Times first reported the decision.

It also comes shortly after EU leaders approved what they called a "massive and painful" package of economic penalties in response to Moscow's shocking military assault on its neighbor.

The punishments cut off large portions of the Russian economy from EU markets. But the package did not bar Russia from the SWIFT international payments system, used for global business transactions, nor did it target Putin and some of his closest advisers, like Lavrov.

As of Friday afternoon, that had changed.

The possibility of sanctioning Putin and Lavrov was discussed during the EU leaders’ emergency summit meeting held overnight Thursday into Friday.

While several leaders pushed for the penalties, others had doubts. A compromise was floated that involved freezing their assets but holding off on a travel ban. That arrangement got the final green light Friday morning.


TOPICS: Russia
KEYWORDS: europeanunion; lavrov; putin; ukraine
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Freeze their assets? Why, were they parking trucks and honking their horns?

But seriously folks....

How unserious can get the EU get by freezing their bank accounts but not banning their travel?

1 posted on 02/25/2022 1:06:05 PM PST by Loyalist
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To: Loyalist

Their biggest asset is Biden. The EU is going to Freeze Biden.


2 posted on 02/25/2022 1:07:22 PM PST by FlyingEagle
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To: Loyalist

Putin got his boat out of there in the nick of time.


3 posted on 02/25/2022 1:11:17 PM PST by ryderann
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To: Loyalist

EU banking moves....

Napoleon and others could have told the enemies, never battle Russia in the winter. They’ll freeze your assets off.

Guess this is an attempt at turnabout.


4 posted on 02/25/2022 1:11:47 PM PST by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
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To: ryderann

I was just going to say, “right after he moved his yacht”


5 posted on 02/25/2022 1:14:06 PM PST by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic...)
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To: Loyalist
How unserious can get the EU get by freezing their bank accounts but not banning their travel?

Who believes that Putin or anyone in power in Russia have their "assets" anywhere near the Western banking system?

More BS and gaslighting.

6 posted on 02/25/2022 1:15:00 PM PST by PGR88
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To: Loyalist

Their library cards are also officially revoked.


7 posted on 02/25/2022 1:16:31 PM PST by SamAdams76 (I am 34 days away from outliving Robert Reed (of Brady Bunch Fame))
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To: PGR88

Symbolism over Substance.


8 posted on 02/25/2022 1:18:02 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: PGR88

Yes, that’s what I’d think.

Putin probably does keep some so that they can freeze something.


9 posted on 02/25/2022 1:18:05 PM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: Loyalist

Cut Russia all the way off. Period.


10 posted on 02/25/2022 1:20:35 PM PST by rrrod (6)
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To: PGR88
Who believes that Putin or anyone in power in Russia have their "assets" anywhere near the Western banking system?

The days when people could easily hide large amounts of assets in places like the Cayman Islands or Panama or Cyprus are pretty much over.

The US and the EU have over time pretty much broken this system of offshoring assets.

They could locate pretty much anything financial if they decide to focus on it.

I don't think popular perception has caught up to just how much financial surveillance and control the US/EU have over financial assets.

11 posted on 02/25/2022 1:21:26 PM PST by Meet the New Boss
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To: FlyingEagle

You win the thread!


12 posted on 02/25/2022 1:22:02 PM PST by rrrod (6)
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To: Magnum44

If the yacht sails to a Russian port, it will be fine. If Putin had it sailed to an EU or Mediterranean port, it will probably be impounded. Since it just left Germany, It can’t have gone too far. Wonder if it could be seized in international waters?


13 posted on 02/25/2022 1:25:51 PM PST by offduty (Joe Biden, Commander in Thief)
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To: offduty

Other than for a headline, its not really important in the big picture.


14 posted on 02/25/2022 1:27:57 PM PST by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic...)
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To: FlyingEagle
Their biggest asset is Biden. The EU is going to Freeze Biden.???

Biden, 2019: "Imagine what can happen in the Ukraine" if Trump is reelected.

087-F78-F7-C871-4833-981-D-C88-FEC29-B8-AF

15 posted on 02/25/2022 1:47:44 PM PST by Grampa Dave (Encourage and fund our liberals & Antifa to move to Canada. Conservative Canadians can move here!)
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To: Loyalist

where they gonna go?


16 posted on 02/25/2022 1:48:15 PM PST by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: PGR88
Correct.

The more phony actions like this, the more the west shows how weak we are, the more emboldened Putin becomes. Then CNN and MSNBC acccuse everyone of pointing this out as supporting Putin.

17 posted on 02/25/2022 1:56:52 PM PST by Widget Jr
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To: Loyalist

I have heard that they are not putting any sanctions whatsoever on aluminum imports from Russia in Canada. Apparently business still trumps politics.


18 posted on 02/25/2022 2:27:14 PM PST by Dat
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To: FlyingEagle

biden is still buying a million barrels of oil a month from Russia. How is he paying for it?


19 posted on 02/25/2022 3:37:05 PM PST by oldasrocks
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To: offduty; Magnum44

Putin’s yacht is already docked in Russian territory (Kaliningrad).


20 posted on 02/25/2022 4:33:41 PM PST by BeauBo
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