Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
European Union institutions in Brussels have begun to take steps towards implementing the use of frozen Russian assets for the reconstruction of Ukraine, in response to calls from European capitals calling for this matter.
During a recent meeting in Brussels, EU ambassadors agreed to create an ad hoc working group on the use of frozen and idle Russian assets to support the reconstruction of Ukraine. According to what was announced by the current rotating presidency of the Union, which Sweden assumes at the beginning of this year and will continue until the end of next June.
  Last month, European Council President Charles Michel said he wanted to explore the idea of managing the frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank, amounting to about $300 billion, to generate profits that could then be allocated to Ukraine's reconstruction efforts, according to the British Financial Times.
Michel urged the leaders of the European Union to move forward with talks on the use of the confiscated assets of the Russian Central Bank, saying that "the matter is about justice and fairness and it must be done in accordance with legal principles."
Last June, the US Treasury said that the United States and its allies had frozen $330 billion in Russian assets since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A few days ago, the Russian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, announced, in an interview with Sputnik, that the British authorities are studying ways to confiscate frozen Russian assets and are preparing legislation in this regard.
"There is recognition by almost all Western countries, including London, that such measures are completely illegal," the ambassador said.
He noted, "There are no laws in this regard, but the perverted logic is that such laws must be devised and enacted; as far as I understand, this is happening in the European Union and Washington. The first case of confiscation of personal funds took place."
The ambassador added, "We haven't noticed here yet, but there are assets, and there is movement in this direction. At the moment I can't confirm any of these steps, but some kind of legislation that would move in this direction is already being prepared."
In previous statements, the ambassador, Andrei Kelin, said that he did not rule out the expulsion of Russian diplomats from London by the British authorities on the anniversary of the start of the special operation in Ukraine.
The ambassador said, "As for the expulsion ... I do not now rule out any surprises, which can be prepared on the anniversary of the start of the special military operation in Ukraine. We know that preparations are underway and we will see what problems will happen."