Russia counters EU with 'Frozen Assets for Ukraine'... "Seizure of EU Assets"

Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma, Condemns "Stealing Our Assets"

Russia responded to the European Union's (EU) consideration of using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's reconstruction costs with the card of 'seizing assets of EU member states within its own territory.'

On the 30th (local time), Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the Russian State Duma, criticized the news of the EU's consideration of using frozen Russian assets on Telegram, calling it "the act of stealing our country's frozen assets to militarize Kyiv (the capital of Ukraine)."

Chairman Volodin pointed out, "The seized assets belonging to unfriendly countries are likely much greater than our resources frozen in Europe."

Earlier, EU leaders held a meeting on the 26th-27th and announced that they are reviewing specific measures to use frozen Russian assets within the region for Ukraine's reconstruction costs.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, is holding a press conference during the EU summit held in Brussels, Belgium, on the 27th (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated at a press conference related to the EU summit that the value of frozen Russian assets within the EU amounts to a total of 211 billion euros (approximately 302 trillion won), emphasizing, "The next step is to propose actual utilization methods for the frozen assets."

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, the EU and other Western countries have frozen major Russian assets, including the foreign currency reserves of the Russian central bank deposited in overseas banks, as part of sanctions against Russia.

It is known that the frozen Russian assets within the EU held by Euroclear, an international central securities depository located in Brussels, Belgium, exceed approximately 180 billion euros (about 258 trillion won).