Brussels’ attempts to use sovereign Russian assets to fund Kiev risks long-term reputational damage, the clearing house has reportedly warned
The EU could face increased borrowing costs and long-term global reputational damage if it forces through its latest plan to use frozen Russian sovereign assets to finance new loans for Ukraine, Belgian depository Euroclear has warned, according to the Financial Times.
The privately owned clearing house holds around $200 billion of the $300 billion in Russian Central Bank assets frozen in the West after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. EU leaders want to issue a ‘reparation loan’ to Kiev by using those holdings as collateral. Moscow has denounced any such move as outright theft.
The Brussels-backed plot would be seen globally as “confiscation of central bank reserves, undermining the rule of law” by investors such as sovereign wealth funds and central banks, Euroclear CEO Valerie Urbain has warned, in a letter seen by the FT.
She also warned that the move would make European debt appear riskier and push up government borrowing costs across the bloc for a long time, the paper reported Thursday.
Urbain has previously cautioned that privately owned Euroclear could sue the EU if it attempts to confiscate the Russian sovereign funds held there.
The push to seize Russian assets has intensified as the US promotes a new initiative to settle the Ukraine conflict. US President Donald Trump has expressed optimism that a settlement could be reached. European officials, however, fear the American proposal could complicate the bloc’s plans, with the German newspaper Handelsblatt reporting that it might compel the EU to reimburse any diverted Russian funds.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed Brussels’ intent to press ahead with the asset grab on Tuesday while pledging continued EU support for Kiev. The Commission insists the proposed scheme does not amount to confiscation, though officials acknowledge there is a risk it will be perceived that way.
Russia has long stated that any attempt to seize its Central Bank assets would be regarded as “theft” and would undermine trust in Western financial institutions. Russian officials have accused Brussels of trying to prolong the Ukraine conflict for political advantage and to justify rising military budgets that benefit European arms manufacturers.
