LONDON, December 29. /TASS/. Group of Seven leaders will discuss a legal theory developed by the United States to seize $300 bln in frozen Russian assets at a summit in late February, Reuters reported, citing two people familiar with the plan and a British official.
According to one of the people, "the US has been able to develop a legal theory" that would make it possible to confiscate Russian assets immobilized in the West in "very specific circumstances." The authors say hopefully the theory would be "held up internationally in the courts" and widely recognized as legitimate, Reuters said. While US officials do not expect "an actual announcement" about potential seizures at the G7 summit in late February, they hope that G7 leaders would "agree to issue a stronger statement when they meet in late February."
The two officials stressed that no final decision on asset seizures has yet been made. Besides, the United States, Great Britain and other countries would need legislative changes to carry out such seizures.
A source told Reuters that there was still more work to be done, including convincing other countries to join the project. According to the source, some countries would agree to join in "if all European countries signed on."