The CEO of Russia's VTB Bank, Andrey Kostin, is calling the West's plan to use interest earned from frozen Russian assets to fund military aid for Ukraine outright "theft." He’s pushing back hard against the idea, framing it as illegitimate and unjust.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about money—it’s a high-stakes diplomatic fight. The West sees using these funds as a way to support Ukraine without direct taxpayer costs, but Russia views it as a brazen seizure. The tension over frozen assets is another flashpoint in the broader economic war between Moscow and Western nations, and it could escalate retaliatory measures. For anyone watching global finance or the Ukraine conflict, this move (and Russia’s reaction) signals even frostier relations ahead.