��������

MOSCOW: Russia on Monday warned European states that it would go after any state which sought to take its assets after reports that the European Union was floating the idea of spending billions of dollars worth of frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine.
After President Vladimir Putin sent his army into Ukraine in 2022, the United States and its allies prohibited transactions with the Russian central bank and finance ministry and blocked $300-$350 billion of sovereign Russian assets, mostly European, US and British government bonds held in a European securities depository.
Reuters reported that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants the European Union to find a new way to finance Ukraine’s defense against Russia using the cash balances associated with Russian assets frozen in Europe.
Politico reported that the European Commission is mulling the idea of using Russian cash deposits at the European Central Bank from maturing bonds owned by Russia to fund a “Reparations Loan” for Ukraine.
“If this happens, Russia will pursue the EU states, as well as European degenerates from Brussels and individual EU countries who try to seize our property, until the end of the century,” former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram.
Russia will pursue European states in “all possible ways” and in “all possible international and national courts” as well as “out of court,” said Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council.
Russia says any seizure of its assets amounts to theft by the West and will undermine confidence in the bonds and currencies of the United States and Europe.

SYDNEY: A defense deal to be signed this week could see Papua New Guineans serve in the Australian military, Canberra said on Monday, the pact seen as an attempt to counter Beijing’s rising Pacific influence.
The fresh defense agreement will be signed by Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape on Wednesday in Port Moresby, part of celebrations to mark 50 years of Papua New Guinea’s independence from Australia.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles described the deal as “historic.”
He said Australia’s military had been open to foreign nationals from New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States since last year.
“At the time we said we would have an eye to the Pacific,” he told national broadcaster ABC.
“The agreement that we will sign with PNG contemplates this,” he said.
“There’s more work to be done in terms of walking down that path, but we certainly are interested in how we can recruit Papua New Guineans directly into the ADF,” Marles added, referring to Australia’s military.
The agreement follows an overarching security agreement signed between the two countries in 2023.
Australian media said the deal would enable Papua New Guinea nationals to serve in the Australian Defense Force with the same pay as other members and start a pathway to citizenship.
Speaking in Port Moresby on Monday, Albanese said the deal was an “upgrade in the relationship and its increased interoperability, its increased engagement and security relationship,” according to ABC.
Asked about concerns the deal could violate Papua New Guinea’s sovereignty, he said “people will get to see the agreement, what Australia does is deal with countries with respect and respect for sovereignty is front and center of that.”
Papua New Guinea’s Defense Minister Billy Joseph said the deal “promotes regional security.”
“A secure Papua New Guinea is a secure Australia, and a secure Australia is a secure Papua New Guinea,” he said.
Less than 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Australia’s northernmost border, Papua New Guinea is the largest and most populous state in Melanesia.
China has committed billions of dollars to Pacific nations over the past decade, funding hospitals, sports stadiums, roads and other public works.
It is an approach that appears to be paying dividends.
Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Nauru have all severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China in recent years.
Canberra has stepped up its engagement with the region in a bid to counter Beijing’s influence.
Albanese was in Vanuatu last week to discuss a deal aimed at deepening Australia’s links to the Pacific nation.
However, the deal was not signed, with Prime Minister Jotham Napat citing concerns that its wording would limit Vanuatu’s ability to access funds for “critical infrastructure” from other nations.