The European Union is grappling with internal divisions regarding the fate of approximately €200 billion ($209 billion) in frozen Russian sovereign assets, with member states split between using the funds to support Ukraine and holding them as leverage in future negotiations with Moscow. The debate underscores the broader geopolitical and legal complexities that have emerged since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.

According to a report by Politico on February 25, the frozen assets-primarily held by Euroclear, a Brussels-based financial clearinghouse-became a focal point after Brussels was excluded from recent US-Russia discussions in Saudi Arabia. Frustration over this exclusion has led some EU members to advocate for the immediate transfer of the assets to Kyiv, arguing that such financial support is essential for Ukraine’s reconstruction and continued resistance against Russian aggression. Conversely, other member states contend that retaining the funds offers a critical bargaining chip that could be instrumental in brokering a future peace agreement.

Leading the push for the swift release of Russian assets are the Baltic and Nordic states, Poland, the Czech Republic, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. These countries argue that seizing and repurposing the funds is both a moral and strategic imperative, especially given the uncertainty surrounding continued US financial support for Ukraine.

“I don’t take the argument that it’s legally problematic… we need........

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