The European Union (EU) decided this Friday to indefinitely freeze Russian assets, rather than addressing the matter through a vote every six months, as it had done until now. Moscow has described the move as theft and has warned of retaliation.
French agency Reuters notes that this move allows the EU to avoid the risk that Hungary and Slovakia might at some point refuse to extend the freeze, which would otherwise force the EU to return the money to its rightful owner.
RELATED: Putin and Erdogan Discuss EU Plans to Immobilize Frozen Russian Assets
European Council President Antonio Costa said that the institution’s next objective will be to secure funding for Ukraine for the 2026–2027 period.
For her part, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the decision, alleging it sends a clear signal to Russia and empowers Kiev both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.
In September, the European Commission floated the idea of providing Ukraine with a €140 billion (162 billion dollars) loan framed as reparations, to be financed through Russian assets currently immobilized in the European Union.
More recently, the Commission outlined two long-term funding options for Ukraine: borrowing from financial markets with guarantees from the EU budget, and a separate reparations-style loan backed by frozen Russian sovereign funds held within the bloc.
Belgium has once again voiced its opposition to the proposal, warning that such a move could expose the country to legal claims from Russia.
EU voted to ‘INDEFINITELY immobilize’ €210 BILLION worth of Russian sovereign assets — Reuters
Previously, EU members voted every 6 months on extending the asset freeze pic.twitter.com/AWGDhEmDEU
— RT (@RT_com) December 12, 2025
The Euroclear case
This step comes on the same day that the Central Bank of Russia announced it had filed a lawsuit against the depository Euroclear at the Moscow Arbitration Court. The move is being taken due to the institution’s “illegal actions”, which are causing losses to the Russian Central Bank.
Another reason cited is the direct or indirect use of the Central Bank of Russia’s assets without its consent, an issue that is officially being examined by the European Commission.
Russia’s Central Bank files a LAWSUIT against Euroclear
Bank of Russia says Belgium’s depositary that holds most of Russian assets causes losses to Russia
The decision is also connected to the willing of EU to steal the assets pic.twitter.com/rf2Rmts6OQ
— RT (@RT_com) December 12, 2025
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