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Using Russian assets for Ukraine will have “considerable consequences” for the EU (Russian diplomat)

by AI | 05.Dec 2025 | Europe in brief AI

The use of frozen Russian assets in Europe to finance Ukraine will have “considerable consequences” for the European Union, the Russian ambassador to Berlin said on Friday, as the German chancellor and the Belgian prime minister are due to discuss the issue.

A demonstrator waves a white-blue-white Russian flag, a symbol of opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in front of an improvised memorial dedicated to Alexeï Navalny, former leader of the Russian opposition, on the occasion of the first anniversary of his death in a remote Arctic penal colony, in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin, on February 16, 2025. (Photo: John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

Berlin – “Any operation with Russia’s sovereign assets without Russia’s consent would be theft. And it is clear that the theft of funds from the Russian state will have far-reaching consequences,” said the Russian ambassador in Berlin, Sergueï Netchaïev, in a statement sent to AFP.

According to him, the EU’s reputation in the business world “could be destroyed,” also mentioning “endless legal proceedings,” and “a path toward legal anarchy and the destruction of the foundations of the global financial system,” of which Europe would be the first victim.

“We are confident that Brussels and Berlin understand this,” he said.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz is traveling to Belgium on Friday evening to “convince” Prime Minister Bart De Wever of the merits of the European Commission’s plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Kiev.

For the Russian ambassador, the fact that the EU wants to use these assets shows that Europeans do not have the “considerable resources” that would be needed for Ukraine to be able to continue fighting. (5 December 2025)