DISINFO: Seizing Russian assets would plunge the whole world into serious economic troubles
SUMMARY
If the West decides to seize Russian assets valued at $300 billion, it would cause the whole world serious economic and financial troubles, triggering a long-scale conflict that would impact not only Russia but also the US and the European Union.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation aiming to deter nations from seizing Russia's frozen assets to fund Ukraine's reconstruction, warning of an imminent economic collapse. This narrative gained traction in early 2024, as proposals to use these assets for Ukraine's rebuilding efforts became more popular.
Although there is a strong debate on the advisability of adopting this decision—as critics have argued that it could undermine the principle of state sovereign immunity and erode confidence in Western financial institutions and currencies—the arguments expressed in this disinformation story are a serious exaggeration.
Russia has stated that if its assets are seized it would retaliate by seizing Western assets in Russian territory, and there could be other economic consequences, but nothing of the scale this disinformation story suggests. By stoking fears of apocalyptic repercussions, this disinformation narrative aims to dissuade audiences from backing this measure.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that the EU’s disintegration is close due to its anti-Russia sanctions, that the latest EU sanctions package is ineffective and doomed to fail, that the EU anti-Russian sanctions kill the economic sovereignty of Europe, or that the US wants to save the dollar from collapsing by provoking a war between Europe and Russia.