The European Union plans to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine after the conflict ends.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kallas stated on Saturday that the EU will explore how to use frozen Russian assets to provide funding for Ukraine's defense and reconstruction after the conflict ends. However, achieving this goal through asset confiscation is currently not politically realistic.

According to the EU, due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the EU has imposed sanctions on Russia, and the scale of Russian assets frozen within the EU is currently about 210 billion euros (equivalent to 245.85 billion USD).

Ukraine, along with some EU countries such as Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland, has stated that these assets should be immediately confiscated and used to support Ukraine. As Ukraine faces a funding gap (requiring tens of billions of euros next year alone), such calls have intensified.

However, core EU member states France, Germany, and Belgium—which holds most of the frozen assets—have all rejected this proposal.

These countries have questioned the legality of asset confiscation and its potential impact on the euro, while pointing out that the proceeds generated by these assets are already being used to support Ukraine.

The majority of the frozen assets are held by the Belgian securities depository Euroclear. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot stated that confiscating the assets is "absolutely impossible" at present.

He told reporters in Copenhagen: "These assets are strongly protected by international law. Confiscating them would trigger systemic financial turmoil and also undermine external trust in the euro."

There have also been proposals to adjust the investment strategy for the proceeds from these assets to achieve higher yields, but Prévot likewise rejected this suggestion. He stated that from both a financial and legal perspective, this approach is too risky.

Last year, the Group of Seven (G7), including the EU, reached a consensus to use the proceeds generated by these assets to provide Ukraine with a 50 billion USD loan.

Kallas pointed out: "Belgium and many other countries are currently unwilling to discuss (asset confiscation) matters."

Reuters reported in February this year, citing sources, that Russia has hinted it might agree to use frozen assets for Ukraine's reconstruction, but would insist that part of the funds be used for reconstruction in areas under its control.