Major European Union member states including France, Germany, Italy and Belgium advocate measured progress on how proceeds from blocked Russian assets should be used, according to reports cited by Bloomberg based on informed sources. They emphasize a cautious stance toward monetizing these assets and favor a gradual, well-considered approach that would minimize risks to the bloc’s financial stability. (Bloomberg)
In the document, authorities across the union underline a principle: profits from frozen Russian assets should be navigated carefully. The aim is to identify a legitimate, transparent option for channeling returns without triggering adverse market effects or destabilizing the European financial system. The consensus, led by France among others, points toward narrowing the range of options by year’s end so policymakers can select a credible path forward that maintains the integrity of EU financial governance. (Bloomberg)
European Commission figures indicate that roughly 200 billion euros worth of Bank of Russia assets and about 24 billion euros of private financial holdings remain frozen within the EU. This stock of frozen assets has prompted ongoing discussions about the best safeguards and governance structures to ensure that any future use of proceeds aligns with European fiscal discipline, sovereignty concerns, and international legal norms. (Bloomberg)
Separately, Vyacheslav Volodin, the Speaker of Russia’s State Duma, asserted that Moscow possesses moral and legal grounds to question the presence of G7 nations on Russian soil. He argued that the effort to “steal” Russian funds constitutes a crime that merits international examination. Though these remarks come from a different national perspective, they feed into the broader geopolitical debate surrounding asset freezes, sanctions, and the long-term consequences for international economic relations. (Bloomberg)
A former Russian ambassador criticized France for what he described as Russophobic policies tied to asset freezing, highlighting the polarized reactions that accompany these financial measures. The exchange underscores how asset freezes are perceived differently across capitals and how these perceptions influence ongoing negotiations about monetary proceeds, legal frameworks, and potential compensatory mechanisms. (Bloomberg)