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German Finance Minister Confident EU Will Use Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine

EU ministers assess legally secure financing options ahead of a late-October leaders' review.

Overview

  • Germany's finance minister said in Luxembourg he is sure the EU will find legally secure ways to use frozen Russian central bank assets for Ukraine.
  • The EU is weighing how to deploy roughly €185–€210 billion in immobilised reserves after previously tapping only the income from them.
  • One option would invest the cash in European Commission zero-coupon bonds backed by guarantees from member governments.
  • Another proposal would create a reparations loan that Ukraine repays only if Russia later compensates for war damage.
  • ECB chief Christine Lagarde has stressed compliance with international law, and Belgium's prime minister has warned the approach is risky as leaders prepare to revisit the plan in late October.