Russia's Duma Calls for Confiscating Western Assets as Retaliatory Counter Measures

Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Russian lower house of parliament (Duma), said on Sunday that his country should confiscate the property of Westerners in response to a proposal by US President Joe Biden to transfer frozen assets of the Russian elite to Ukraine.

Biden on Thursday ramped up support for Ukraine, asking Congress for a $33 billion aid package and allowing the state to seize more assets owned by rich Russians and give them to Ukraine.

Volodin added that the luxury yachts and villas owned by wealthy Russians did not help Russia's development, but that the West seemed to just want to "steal" them.

Volodin, who usually expresses the Kremlin's views, wrote on his Telegram channel: "It is right to take similar measures with respect to businesses in Russia whose owners come from unfriendly countries where such measures have been taken. They have confiscated these assets."

"Proceeds from the sale should be used to develop our country as the West set a dangerous precedent that has been set and it must return and hit America like a bouncing ball," he said.