So far, the EU has been content with only using the interest from the Russian state assets that have been frozen in accounts, mainly in Belgium. Now, however, the EU Commission is looking more and more actively at how to use the assets themselves – amounting to around 200 billion euros.
We will make a thorough examination of the issue of the frozen assets. We cannot imagine that if there is a ceasefire or a peace agreement, these assets will be returned to Russia if they have not paid for repairs, says EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas ahead of Saturday's meeting with the foreign ministers of the member states in Copenhagen.
Support exists, among other things, in the Nordic and Baltic countries, which reject the concern that exists elsewhere that a seizure can damage trust in all of Europe and the euro's position as a global currency.
I think we can do this without serious disruptions, and I also think it's our duty to do it. Sooner or later, someone will use these assets and I don't think it should be Russia, says Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.
