European Union Votes to Keep Russian Assets Frozen Indefinitely
The EU ambassadors approved an indefinite freeze on Russian assets in Europe, despite opposition from two member states.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to European Pravda.
The decision, passed by 25 votes in favor with Hungary and Slovakia dissenting, ensures that Russian assets will remain frozen even if EU sanctions against Russia are not renewed in the future. This measure aims to prevent Moscow from regaining access to these resources and reinforces the EU’s stance against Russia’s ongoing military aggression in Ukraine.
EU sanctions against Russia typically require unanimous approval every six months, which has previously allowed individual member states to threaten blocking their extension. By approving the indefinite freeze, the EU sends a strong signal that Russian financial resources will remain restricted as long as the war continues.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the decision, emphasizing that it demonstrates support for Ukraine and underscores that Russia’s costs for the war will continue to rise, strengthening Ukraine both on the battlefield and in negotiations.
"This is a powerful message to Ukraine: We want to make sure that our brave neighbour becomes even stronger on the battlefield and at the negotiating table," she wrote.
Meanwhile, the Danish EU Presidency continues to push for a reparations loan for Ukraine, guaranteed by frozen Russian assets, as a key solution to fund Ukraine’s critical needs in 2026–2027. Danish Minister of Economy Stephanie Lose emphasized that Europe has a responsibility to provide funding to support Ukraine.
She noted that technical details of the proposal, including national guarantees and budgetary impacts, are still being discussed, with the aim of reaching a decision at the EU Council next week.
Earlier, Seven EU member states (Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Ireland, Latvia, and Sweden) have formally urged the EU leadership to unlock frozen Russian assets to finance the reparations loan. In a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, they argued that the move would provide a sustainable mechanism for supporting Ukraine, uphold Kyiv’s right to compensation, and strengthen Ukraine’s defense and negotiating position in ongoing peace talks.
The EU discussions focus on balancing financial viability with political consensus among member states. Supporters stress that the reparations loan would not burden national budgets or public debt, while also signaling a strong commitment to Ukraine amid Russia’s continued aggression.
As The Gaze reported earlier, the European Commission proposed to use funds from Russian frozen assets to pay Ukrainians reparations for damages caused by Russia's aggression.
Read more on The Gaze: Reparations from Russia: The EU Council has All the Tools to Provide Money to Ukraine