Russia considers downgrading diplomatic relations with the United States if Washington takes practical steps to confiscate its assets. Source: Sergei Ryabkov to Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet RIA Novosti, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Russian official said that after the US Congress passed a bill allowing frozen Russian assets to be confiscated, "the nature of the retaliatory measures" will be determined depending on "how the discussion among our adversaries unfolds".