MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. The European Union's payment to Ukraine of a percentage of profits from confiscated Russian assets will be outright banditry and theft, and Russia will respond, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"This is outright banditry and theft. These actions are a gross and unprecedented violation of basic international norms. We said that we would respond, and so we shall," the diplomat said.

Reuters reported earlier that Borrell will propose that EU countries send 90% of the proceeds from Russia's frozen assets to the European Peace Fund to finance arms supplies to Kiev, and transfer the remaining 10% to the EU budget to then be used to support Ukraine's military industry. These proposals are expected to be sent to EU countries ahead of the EU summit on March 21-22.

Earlier, the European Commission announced it intends to impose a special tax on income from the reinvestment of frozen Russian assets, close to 100%, which will give the act of seizure the appearance of legality.