The European Union has announced plans to indefinitely freeze Russian assets held within the bloc, in a move aimed at ensuring up to $246 billion in Russian funds remain in EU jurisdictions, officials said on Friday.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed the decision on X, stating that the freeze will remain in place unless Russia fully compensates Ukraine for the damages caused by its war of aggression.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the move as a "strong signal" to Moscow, signalling that the financial costs of the war will continue to rise. European Council President António Costa added that the decision honours commitments made during the October European Council meeting to keep Russian assets immobilised until the conflict ends and reparations are paid.
The bloc plans to use the frozen funds to support Ukraine, with an estimated 90 billion dollars potentially available, either through direct borrowing or via assets held at Euroclear, Belgium’s main depository for frozen Russian funds.
Belgium, however, has expressed concerns over the proposal, citing potential legal challenges, financial liability and warning that moving too quickly could undermine fragile diplomatic channels aimed at ending the conflict. The Belgian government has sought amendments to the EU Commission’s initial plan to mitigate these risks and provide stronger protection for Euroclear.
Russia’s central bank denounced the plan as illegal and warned it may pursue legal action to contest the use of its frozen assets.
A shooting in Montreal, Canada has left three people dead, including a police officer, a civilian and the suspected attacker, police said. ...
The United States eased sanctions on Iran for 60 days as President Donald Trump warned he would do "what I have to do" if Tehran failed to honour the ...
A chaotic day of World Cup action saw Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland shine in high-scoring wins for France and Norway. Lionel Messi continued his ...
All 18 U.S.-resident passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship linked to a hantavirus outbreak have returned to their home states after completing mo...
Six people were wounded in Russian air strikes across Ukraine overnight, local authorities said, as air raid alerts were issued in Kyiv in the early h...
A shooting in Montreal, Canada has left three people dead, including a police officer, a civilian and the suspected attacker, police said.
The United States eased sanctions on Iran for 60 days as President Donald Trump warned he would do "what I have to do" if Tehran failed to honour the deal.
A chaotic day of World Cup action saw Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland shine in high-scoring wins for France and Norway. Lionel Messi continued his record-breaking run as Argentina secured another commanding victory.
All 18 U.S.-resident passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship linked to a hantavirus outbreak have returned to their home states after completing monitoring at the National Quarantine Unit, the University of Nebraska Medical Center said on Monday.
At least thirteen people have died and sixty-six have been injured following an explosion at Qatar's main liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub at Ras Laffan, authorities said on Sunday.
Cape Verde’s remarkable FIFA World Cup debut continued on Sunday (21 June) as the tournament newcomers held Uruguay to a 2-2 draw. Goalkeeper Vozinha was once again at the centre of the story, this time with his mother watching from the stands.
Tehran has agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommence inspections of its nuclear programme, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said. The U.S. and Iran have settled on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal, according to mediators Qatar and Pakistan.
A severe heatwave sweeping across much of Europe has led France to restrict alcohol consumption at public events, while Germany issued widespread heat warnings and Spain closed a football fan zone in Madrid.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on a landmark internet deal that will allow traffic to pass through Azerbaijani networks.It's the latest deal to highlight the ongoing peace process between the two countries.
A shooting in Montreal, Canada has left three people dead, including a police officer, a civilian and the suspected attacker, police said.
All 18 U.S.-resident passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship linked to a hantavirus outbreak have returned to their home states after completing monitoring at the National Quarantine Unit, the University of Nebraska Medical Center said on Monday.
Six people were wounded in Russian air strikes across Ukraine overnight, local authorities said, as air raid alerts were issued in Kyiv in the early hours of Tuesday (23 June), urging residents to take shelter.
Romania’s prime minister-designate Adrian Vestea failed to secure parliament’s confidence late on Monday after the far-right opposition withheld support, prolonging a political crisis that could affect the country’s access to European Union funds and weigh on its credit standing.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the China Institute of Sport Science (CISS) have launched a campaign to reach 100 million people in China by 2028, encouraging more active lifestyles and greater participation in physical activity through community programmes and digital tools.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment