Russia warns US and Europe over reports Ukraine may get its seized assets

The Kremlin has threatened Europe and the US with “serious consequences”, including tit-for-tat financial seizures or even a break in diplomatic relations, if Russian assets held abroad are given to aid the Ukrainian budget and war effort.

A spokesperson for Vladimir Putin told reporters on Friday that if the Biden administration and European leaders planned to seize Russian central bank assets believed to be in excess of $300bn (£236bn) that were frozen after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, they should “realise that Russia will never leave those who do it alone”.

Disclose Assets? What's the Point?

All candidates in British Columbia provincial elections are required by law to disclose their finances, but there are no penalties if they choose to file a blank form or to lie.

"It is pretty crazy," said John Heaney, a lawyer who was deputy minister to two B.C. premiers when the New Democratic Party was in power and who in private practice specializes in public and administrative law. "To have no penalties for failure to comply makes the act kind of ludicrous. It almost invites people not to comply."