{
  "id": 5064337,
  "title": "Sweden invokes Moscow's hybrid attacks in renewed push to use frozen Russian assets",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/sweden-invokes-moscows-hybrid-attacks-in-renewed-push-to-use-frozen",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T10:17:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Kyiv Independent",
    "slug": "kyiv-independent",
    "url": "https://kyivindependent.com/split-the-risk-and-save-the-taxpayer-sweden-doubles-down-on-russian-frozen-assets/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 2, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard cited Russia's escalating hybrid warfare against Europe as the reason for her country's renewed push to utilize frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine. Stenergard joined her counterparts from Poland, the Netherlands, and Spain in an open letter urging foreign ministers to discuss the matter for the first time since talks stalled in December 2025. She suggested that discussing frozen assets is \"the right thing to do, the fair thing to do\". Stenergard noted that Russia's behavior has become even more aggressive and that the country is increasingly employing hybrid attacks to divide Europe.\n\nThe comments came after Germany became the first country to attribute Russia's responsibility for hybrid attacks against it, highlighting the appearance of explosives-laden drones at Leipzig Airport on August 4. Stenergard advocated for using the frozen assets to support Ukraine, stating that it is the most \"fair thing to do, also for taxpayers\". Sweden, considered a \"frugal\" country within the EU, has expressed concerns about the budget for the bloc's next seven-year plan, set to begin in 2028.\n\nThe draft budget includes over 131 billion euros ($152 billion) for defense and 89 billion euros ($103 billion) for direct support to Ukraine. However, some countries, notably Belgium, are hesitant to use the Russian frozen assets to aid Ukraine due to the majority of the assets, some 200 billion euros ($231 billion), being held with Euroclear, a Belgian-based clearing house. Belgium fears potential legal challenges and would have to find a spare 200 billion euros ($231 billion) on its own to reimburse Euroclear if there are legal issues with the assets' use. Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel also expressed a preference for a solidarity mechanism, stating that he is waiting for the EU's 26 member states to share the risks.",
  "summary": "\"The most fair thing to do, also for taxpayers, is to take the frozen assets and give them to Ukraine,\" said Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Stenergard.",
  "key_points": [
    "Swedish Foreign Minister cites Russia's hybrid warfare as reason for using frozen assets.",
    "Germany attributes Russia's responsibility for hybrid attacks against it.",
    "Belgium hesitant to use frozen assets due to legal challenges with Euroclear."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}