started · updated
Russia targets European companies with asset seizures
Russia is escalating its retaliation against European companies following new EU sanctions. Russian authorities have begun seizing control of assets belonging to major foreign corporations, citing European involvement in the conflict in Ukraine as justification.
Recent actions include placing the local operations of Nestlé, Auchan, and Metro AG under temporary state management. High-ranking government sources have signaled that further asymmetric measures are forthcoming, specifically suggesting that major financial institutions like Italy’s UniCredit and Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank could be next targets. One source told Reuters, ‘Let them be afraid.’
While the Kremlin has suggested these measures could be reversible, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated there is currently no basis for withdrawing them. Meanwhile, some Russian corporate representatives have accused European firms of intentionally limiting local growth to the detriment of the Russian economy.
Entities
Auchan · European Union · Metro AG · Nestlé · Raiffeisen Bank · Russia · UniCredit
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] When asked if UniCredit and Raiffeisen could be targets, a government source responded, ‘Let them be afraid.’ dagens.de · www.vijesti.me
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated there is currently no reason to withdraw these measures. www.vijesti.me
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Kremlin justified the seizure of assets by accusing European countries of direct involvement in the war in Ukraine. dagens.de · www.vijesti.me
- [● 2 SOURCES] A high-ranking government source stated that it is time for asymmetric measures against the West. dagens.de · www.vijesti.me
- [● 2 SOURCES] Russian authorities have placed the local operations of Nestlé, Auchan, and Metro AG under temporary management. dagens.de · www.vijesti.me