Justice Demands It: German Official Urged to Seize Frozen Russian Assets as Strikes on Ukraine Intensify
Germany’s top government official has urged a renewed and deeper assessment of whether the European Union should confiscate frozen Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine, marking a potential policy evolution in one of the bloc’s most influential member states.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.
Thorsten Frei, Head of the Chancellery under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, stated that the West must no longer shy away from “a more serious consideration” of using Russia’s immobilized state funds. These remarks come as Ukrainian cities face the heaviest bombardment since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
“We must not allow Russia to continue playing games with the international community,” Frei said. “In light of the immense destruction and human suffering Russia is inflicting on Ukraine, the idea of repurposing its frozen assets carries both moral and strategic weight.”
The European Union has frozen approximately €200 billion in Russian central bank reserves, part of a broader Western effort, alongside the U.S., UK, Canada, and Japan, to financially isolate Moscow. While the EU has already agreed to use the interest generated from these assets to fund Ukrainian reconstruction, member states remain divided over whether the assets themselves can be legally confiscated.
Germany and France have long voiced caution, warning of the possible ramifications for global financial stability, the euro’s credibility, and international investment norms. But Frei's comments indicate that the Merz government is reevaluating this stance in light of the intensifying war and growing pressure from frontline EU member states such as Lithuania and Estonia.
“If we want to achieve peace through diplomatic means, then our instruments are limited,” Frei said. “That’s precisely why we must deploy every tool at our disposal.”
The statement aligns with recent calls across Europe to impose more meaningful consequences on the Kremlin and to shift the financial burden of Ukraine’s recovery onto Russia itself. Several EU leaders argue that failure to do so would not only prolong the war but also undermine faith in the West’s commitment to justice and accountability.
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