Poland joins call to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden are calling on the European Union to revisit the use of frozen Russian assets to provide further support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a Russian drone strike on a shopping mall in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Friday, amid the Russian invasion.

Photo: EPA/OLEG MOVCHANIUK

In a joint letter, the four countries’ foreign ministers say the EU’s EUR-90-billion loan for Kyiv will not be enough.

They argue that using Russia’s immobilised assets could help make Moscow pay for the destruction it has caused, while reducing the burden on European taxpayers.

The ministers also say the issue should be discussed at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers next week.

Around EUR 210 billion in Russian central bank assets are frozen in the EU, with most of them held by the Belgium-based clearing house Euroclear.

Belgium has been one of the main opponents of using the assets directly, citing concerns about possible repercussions from Russia.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha thanked the foreign ministers of the four countries for their appeal.

In a post on X, he said "Russia refuses to end the war and escalates terror instead. Ukraine needs to bridge gaps for growing defense expenditures and recovery costs."

I am grateful to 🇸🇪@MariaStenergard 🇵🇱 @sikorskiradek 🇳🇱 @ministerBZ and 🇪🇸 @jmalbares for their letter on immobilised Russian assets.

Russia refuses to end the war and escalates terror instead. Ukraine needs to bridge gaps for growing defense expenditures and recovery costs.…

— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) August 28, 2026

(ał)

Source: IAR