EU Countries Push to Use Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine
Belgium has once again opposed the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
Consensus
- The question of using frozen Russian assets in the EU to support Ukraine remains on the agenda of the European Commission.
- Belgium opposes the initiative due to financial risks and is unwilling to bear the burden alone.
- Sweden's Foreign Minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard, supports using the assets as a fair and reasonable way to help Ukraine and Europe.
- Several EU countries, including the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, and Sweden, are considering or have initiated efforts to revive the discussion.
- The European Commission has not received any formal letter from a group of EU countries requesting to resume work on the issue as of 27 August.
- The idea of using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine was first proposed at the European Council meeting on 18 December of the previous year.
- The total value of frozen Russian assets in Europe is approximately €200 billion.
- The proposal faces legal and technical challenges, and no final decision has been made.
Points of divergence
- The Netherlands' embassy in The Hague stated that The Hague has not abandoned plans to confiscate frozen Russian assets in Europe, calling it an illegal theft. — vesti
- A coalition of several countries plans to send a letter to the European Commission requesting technical review of the issue, with the letter expected after 27 August. — interfax
- Negotiations on using frozen Russian assets were halted last winter due to Belgium blocking the initiative. — tvrain
- Belgium risks having to return funds if Russia demands it, according to its Foreign Minister. — tg_tass_agency
- EU leaders will not return to the topic at upcoming meetings, as disagreements among member states remain unchanged. — kommerant
- The EU cannot currently return to discussing the use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine due to unchanged obstacles and reservations from member states. — tg_rian_ru
Coverage (14 sources)
- In Belgium, opposition to using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine has resurfaced — The Moscow Times
- Belgian authorities will not change their position on frozen Russian assets — Интерфакс
- In Belgium, new proposal by EU countries to seize Russian assets was rejected — Коммерсантъ
- Russian Foreign Ministry Warns of Hague Plans to Steal Russia's Assets in Europe — Вести
- Belgian Foreign Ministry says position against use of Russian assets has not changed — Вести
- Question about the use of Russian assets remains on the European Union agenda — Интерфакс
- EU still wants to seize Russia's frozen assets, said at the EC — Вести
- Which EU countries want to use Russia's assets — Дождь
- FT learned about plans of EU countries to again ask the European Commission to use Russian assets — Вести
- Several EU countries still fear seizure of Russian assets, reports Euractiv. In Europe, Russian assets are currently frozen... — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Euractiv: EU will not return to the topic of Russian assets for Ukraine at upcoming meetings — Коммерсантъ
- Euractiv: the question of using Russian assets has not yet returned to the EU agenda — Коммерсантъ
- European Union will not return to discussion of confiscation of frozen Russian assets — Вести
- EU cannot yet return to discussing the use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, writes Eur... — РИА Новости (Telegram)
Key entities
- Russia
- EU
- Ukraine
- Belgium
- Euractiv
- Moscow
- European Commission
- Theo Franken
- European Union
- Europe
- EC
- MID
- INTERFAX.RU
- Maxim Prevo
- Balash Ujvari
More on Theo Franken
More on Maxim Prevo
- Belgium Opposes Use of Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine
- Belgium summons Russian envoy over drone incident in Germany