States have a number of euphemisms for theft.
Typically, when stealing land, a state’s pet historians will write that it “acquired” the land, or that the land “became part of” etc.
Putin’s gang have just stolen two foreign-owned businesses:
This is described, even by the Beeb, as “seizing control“.
Good luck to any shoplifter trying that one out on the judge: “It’s OK your honour, I didn’t steal the slab of Carlsberg, I merely seized control of it.”
Language matters.
Disjecta 