Foreign Policy: Europe Is Hunting For Frozen Russian Assets

The funds are being used to help Ukraine.

Europe is changing its approach to supporting Kiev. Germany for the first time called for a large-scale mobilization of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed to allocate about 140 billion euros exclusively for the purchase of weapons for the AFU, writes Foreign Policy (translated by Charter97.org).

Since the war began, nearly 200 billion euros worth of Russian assets have been frozen in Europe and the United States, but the question of their use has been a source of legal and political controversy, especially in France and Belgium. Now, against the backdrop of reduced US involvement and US President Donald Trump's announcement that he is withdrawing support for Ukraine, Brussels and Berlin are showing a willingness to act more decisively.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen emphasized: "It was Russia that unleashed this war, and it is the aggressor who must pay for it." According to her, the new scheme will make it possible to cover Ukraine's expenses not at the expense of European taxpayers, but at the expense of Russian funds.

They are discussing such options as issuing EU debt obligations against the pledge of Russian assets or transferring to Ukraine the interest accumulated from these funds. Thus, the assets themselves would remain frozen, but the money would be used to finance Ukraine's defense and reconstruction.

Merz insists that the funds should go exclusively for weapons, while the European Commission proposes to distribute them more broadly - for defense, reconstruction and social needs. Final decisions could be made at an EU summit in Denmark this week.

Russia has responded by threatening "consequences" if its funds are confiscated or actively used. However, European experts are confident that Moscow, having unleashed a war of aggression, has lost the legal protection of its assets.

The EU is thus ready not only to tighten sanctions, but also for the first time to use Russian money as the main source of funding for Ukraine's war for survival.

You can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com