Exclusive: Swedish EU letter reopens debate over frozen Russian assets
"We believe now is the time to revert to the issue of how we can make further use of Russia's immobilized assets for the benefit of Ukraine," reads a draft letter seen by the Kyiv Independent.
A draft letter to EU officials, signed by the foreign ministers of Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain, has reignited debate over using Russia's frozen assets to aid Ukraine, according to the Kyiv Independent. The letter, dated Aug. 27, urges the EU to hold an informal meeting to discuss the matter further at an event in Ireland from Sept.
1-2. The EU provided Ukraine with a 90 billion euro loan in April 2026, which was meant to cover two-thirds of Kyiv's financial needs until the end of 2027. However, the remaining third of Ukraine's budgetary requirements still needs to be addressed. President Volodymyr Zelensky called for more financial support by the end of the year, prompting Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, the lead signatory on the letter, to bring up the issue of frozen assets.
Russia is believed to hold over 200 billion euros in frozen assets across Europe. The letter emphasizes the need to consider financial and economic risks and ensure risk-sharing among EU member states, with no disproportionate burden on any single country.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
