Russia threatens to cut ties with the United States if its assets are confiscated

The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed on Friday that Russia may sever diplomatic relations with the United States if Washington confiscates Russian assets frozen due to the conflict in Ukraine.

“The United States shouldn’t act under the illusion… Russia clings to diplomatic relations with that country,” Ryabkov said.

In a related context, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday added Rolf, the largest car sales company in Russia, to the list of companies that have been placed under the temporary administration of the Russian state.

This is in response to the confiscation of Russian assets abroad.

Measures taken by Russia this year included its temporary control of several subsidiaries of Western companies, in response to the seizure of Russian assets in the West.

Among the companies affected were Carlsberg and the dairy company Danone.

At a time when the ruble fell to its lowest level in two weeks, amounting to 92 against the dollar, these developments indicated escalating diplomatic tensions between Russia and the United States.