Russia Calls EU Asset Plan Theft
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko accused the EU of theft during the Eastern Economic Forum, claiming that efforts to redirect frozen Russian assets from Belgium's Euroclear bank would harm Belgium itself. The EU is considering moving these assets to a new structure to bypass Belgian objections to using them for Ukraine.
Consensus
- Alexander Grushko, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, criticized the EU's plan to redirect frozen Russian assets from Euroclear in Belgium.
- The EU is considering moving frozen Russian assets from Euroclear to a new structure.
- The move is intended to overcome objections from Belgium.
- Grushko claimed that the EU's actions amount to theft and harm both Russia and Belgium.
- Russia has previously stated that using frozen assets to support Ukraine is illegal.
- Euroclear Bank is located in Belgium and holds frozen Russian assets.
Points of divergence
- The Moscow Arbitrazh Court ordered Euroclear Bank to pay around 200 billion euros (18.2 trillion rubles) in a claim filed by the Central Bank of Russia. — vedomosti
- By June 2026, frozen Russian assets in Switzerland will reach 8.5 billion Swiss francs ($10.4 billion), including real estate, vehicles, and artworks. — vedomosti
- Maria Zakharova, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, stated that those supporting the use of frozen assets for Ukraine are accomplices to a crime. — vesti
Coverage (2 sources)
- Grushko: Brussels understands that they are not only looting Russia but also Belgium — Ведомости
- In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a new scheme for seizing Russian assets was called theft — Вести
Key entities
- Russia
- Belgium
- MID
- European Union (EU)
- Alexander Grushko
- Moscow
- EU
- RIA Novosti
- Brussels
- Euractiv
- Euroclear Bank
- Euroclear