A France Briefing on Sanctions: Frozen Assets, Transfers, and Pathways to Ukraine Reconstruction

A spokesperson for France’s Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs explained that the existing sanctions framework keeps Russian assets frozen while stopping short of confiscation without a court ruling. The current regime bars any transfer of these funds to Ukraine at this time, even as the European Commission signals the development of new proposals designed to permit such movements under strict regulatory conditions. The EC is also examining options to channel assets held by Russian business figures toward Ukraine’s reconstruction, while fully respecting legal procedures and the broader sanctions architecture. The spokesperson highlighted that several asset categories remain frozen under European measures, noting that the Central Bank of Russia’s substantial reserves are estimated at around 300 billion euros. Additionally, roughly 1.3 billion euros tied directly to Russian oligarchs are frozen within France, illustrating the reach and scale of enforcement across member states. (Attribution: France’s Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs)