Friedrich Merz and Bart De Wever both warned against seizing frozen Russian central bank assets held in Europe, arguing such action could be legally problematic and set a dangerous precedent. More than 200 billion in Russian central bank assets are held in the Belgian-based Euroclear and have been frozen since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Interest from those assets is being used to assist Kyiv while the capital itself remains untouched. De Wever cautioned that confiscation could prompt investors or countries to withdraw capital from Europe. Merz, with a corporate law background, issued a similar note of caution.
Germany, Belgium warn against seizing frozen Russian assets 08/26/2025August 26, 2025 Friedrich Merz and his Belgian counterpart Prime Minister Bart De Wever both spoke out against seizing frozen Russian central bank assets in Europe during their press conference in Berlin on Tuesday. More than 200 billion of Russian central bank assets are held in the Belgian-based Euroclear. These funds have been frozen in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the interest payments are being used to assist Ukraine,
He warned against seizing Russian funds frozen in the Euroclear banking system based in Belgium, saying this was legally problematic and could lead other countries to withdraw capital from the continent. Merz, with a background in corporate law, issued a similar note of caution on the issue. Some 200 billion in funds have been frozen since the invasion of Ukraine, with the interest payments going to assist Kyiv, but the capital itself is untouched.
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