According to Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders, the European Union has frozen more than 17 billion euros in Russian assets as part of the sanctions package against Russia.
“So far the assets of 90 people have been frozen, about 17 billion francs in 7 Member States, including 2.2 billion euros in Germany,” the Belgian told the Funke media group newspapers (Saturday).
Financing for the construction of Ukraine?
Since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine eight months ago, the EU has adopted eight sanctions packages. “We are investigating what else can be done,” Reynders says.
Ukrainian politicians in particular have repeatedly demanded that the frozen assets be used to rebuild the country after the war.
Reynders said: “If it is criminal money that the EU is confiscating, it is possible to send it to a compensation fund for Ukraine. However, the amount is not nearly enough to finance the reconstruction.”
300 billion guarantee
As part of the Western sanctions, 300 billion euros from the foreign exchange reserves of the Russian central bank were also frozen. “I think it is at least possible to keep this 300 billion euros as a guarantee until Russia voluntarily participates in the reconstruction of Ukraine,” said Reynders.
(SDA)