A roadmap has been prepared to guard against the possibility of the US seizing Russian state assets - RT reported.
According to the decree signed by President Vladimir Putin on May 23, Moscow can seize assets owned by entities and citizens related to the US in Russia if Washington seizes Russian assets held abroad.
The US and its allies are seeking to use the interest generated from about $300 billion in assets belonging to Russia's sovereignty frozen in the West to support Ukraine's war efforts.
The document published by the Kremlin outlines a future mechanism that would allow all damage caused by the US to be compensated by assets owned by the US itself or related organizations. The Russian government and central banks will be given the authority to claim compensation for those losses through Russian courts.
Those who may face the seizure include US citizens or those residing in the country, or those who conduct most of their business or generate a large part of their profits in Russia.
The assets of those under the control of those individuals will also be subject to legal liability, regardless of their nationality and place of residence.
The court will be able to seize the existing assets of individuals and organizations in Russia, shares in registered enterprises in Russia and ownership of the assets of the above subjects. A government committee will be responsible for compiling a list of people who may be subject to property confiscation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree gives the government four months to prepare a legal framework for the mechanism and submit relevant proposals to parliament for consideration.
The Ukrainian government has urged Western countries to support the seizure of assets under Russian sovereignty and use them to meet Kiev's reconstruction and military needs. The US supports the proposal, but EU countries - which hold the majority of the money - have opposed it on fears that such a move would be illegal and would deal a serious blow to the Western financial system as well as the reputation of the euro.
The less ambitious plans of the West include imposing surprise tariffs on profits generated from fixed assets and using them directly to buy weapons for Kiev or using them as collateral for a loan to the Ukrainian army.
Russia has said it considers any form of property appropriation a act of theft and has vowed to retaliate if the West violates Russia's ownership.
