Russia calls US idea to confiscate Russian assets '21st century piracy'

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday called US proposals to confiscate up to $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to help rebuild Ukraine "21st century piracy" and said Moscow would retaliate harshly if it happened.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that Russia believed the United States was attempting to create "legal cover" for what she said amounted to theft.