France has seized around 850 million euros of Russian oligarchs' assets on its soil, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Sunday.
"We have immobilised [...] 150 million euros in individual's accounts, credit lines in France and in French establishments, " Le Maire told French media as Paris hits Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Furthermore, "we have immobilised 539 million euros in real estate on French territory, corresponding to some 390 properties or apartments and we have sequestered two yachts (with a value of) 150 million euros," said Le Maire.
"In total that is (almost) 850 millions euros in assets belonging to Russian oligarchs which have been immobilised on French soil," he added.
The French crackdown means the owners are unable to, sell on or monetise their assets.
Notwithstanding, "they are not seized in the sense that the state becomes the owner and could then sell them on. For there to be seizure there has to be a penal offence", Le Maire stipulated.
"The sanctions are hitting Russia, the state, Vladimir Putin hard," Le Maire said.
Since Russian began its war in Ukraine on 24 February Western states have responded with a wide-ranging package of stiff financial sanctions.
On Friday, Russia's central bank said the extent of the sanctions would make macro economic forecasting "extremely difficult".
Four days after the invasion began Moscow hiked its main interest rate from 9.5 to 20 percent and the response to the conflict has largely cut Russia's financial sector off from the global economy.
Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers gathered Monday to discuss adding sanctions on Moscow, with a raft of countries pressing for a ban on Russian energy. Germany, however, is reluctant as it relies on Russian gas.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that an oil embargo "is a decision that will hit everyone".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on European leaders to cease all trade with Russia.
"Please do not sponsor the weapons of war of this country, of Russia. No euros for the occupiers. Close all of your ports to them. Don't export them your goods. Deny energy resources. Push for Russia to leave Ukraine," Zelensky said in a video address.
(with wires)
