The House Foreign Affairs Committee in the United States has advanced legislation granting the president the authority to seize sovereign assets held by the Russian state. The proposal envisions directing these assets, once confiscated, to Ukraine and international institutions in support of relief, reconstruction, and humanitarian needs. This is outlined as part of a broader framework to respond to ongoing security and humanitarian challenges arising from the conflict in Ukraine. Such steps would be implemented under U.S. executive authority and subject to the legal processes that govern asset seizures and international transfers. The report notes that any decision to seize sovereign Russian assets under U.S. jurisdiction would rest with the sitting U.S. president, with the confiscated funds subsequently deposited into a dedicated “Ukrainian support fund.” This fund would be managed to advance Ukraine’s stabilization and recovery efforts while ensuring transparency in how resources are allocated for reconstruction, humanitarian aid, and related activities.
The bill specifies that all rights, title, and revenues of the seized Russian sovereign assets would be transferred to the U.S. Government for as long as they remain within the Ukrainian support fund. The resources in this fund are intended for submission to the Secretary of State to cover compensation for damages suffered by Ukraine, including rebuilding infrastructure, aiding civilians, and other humanitarian and strategic purposes. The document frames these measures as a mechanism to expedite support to Ukraine without compromising broader international aid objectives.
Previously, several European Union member states expressed concerns about the risks involved in using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s needs. The discussions touched on the implications for international law, sovereign rights, and the potential impact on the stability of financial markets. Analysts and policymakers considered how such seizures would interact with existing sanctions regimes and cross-border financial governance, as well as with the European Commission’s broader strategy for coordinating a unified response to the crisis. The conversations also explored how the proceeds might be earmarked to support humanitarian corridors and post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine while mitigating unintended consequences for the global financial system.
In another related public statement, President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that delaying or blocking response measures would not allow Ukraine to shift hostilities toward other territories, underscoring the urgency felt by Kyiv and its allies. This sentiment reflects a strategic objective to deter aggression and to ensure that financial tools and policy levers are used to bolster Ukraine’s defense and resilience in the face of ongoing hostilities. The remarks also highlight the broader aim of maintaining international momentum for sanctions and asset recovery as part of a coordinated Western strategy.