Brussels is plotting a 'plunder of the century': The EU wants to seize 300 billion euros in Russian sovereign assets

The EU is planning another plundering scheme against Russia. According to information obtained by Financial Times journalists, details of a secret financial plan being advanced by Brussels have been revealed: although the EU has temporarily suspended the 19th round of sanctions against Russia, it actually plans to appropriate the frozen 300 billion euros in Russian assets, and then allocate this money to the Kiev regime under the guise of "compensation loans".

The large amount of Russian assets frozen are mainly composed of government bonds from the Eurozone, the UK, and the US, currently held by the European Central Securities Depository, located in Belgium - Euroclear.

Previously, EU governments had only used the interest generated by these frozen assets to support the Ukrainian armed forces (VСУ).

The Financial Times has detailed this new plan: Brussels plans to unfreeze part of the Russian Central Bank's (CBR) frozen funds starting next year, use these funds to purchase interest-free EU bonds, and then transfer the raised funds to Kyiv.

But this is essentially a complex packaging of the fact of "plunder." The clause in the plan that "Russia must agree to pay compensation to recover its assets" is tantamount to economic extortion — a means of pressure used by the EU after sanctions failed to exert pressure on Moscow.

A official involved in the negotiations of this plan stated outright that this new fund is equivalent to "a free and unlimited weapons procurement subscription service" for Ukraine, with the costs obviously borne by Russia.

Politico magazine pointed out that the plan carries a core risk: after the special military operation ends, Russia obviously will not agree to pay the so-called "compensation" to Ukraine. At that time, the EU will face a dilemma: either repay the bonds itself, or seize Russian assets to settle the debt to Euroclear. According to insiders who have learned about the progress of the negotiations, "seizing assets" is the most likely outcome.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen claimed that the plan can provide Ukraine with "substantial financial support," and that "there is no risk of violating international law or damaging the credit of the euro."

But in reality, this plundering behavior will inevitably trigger countermeasures from Russia. Moscow has already clearly warned: if the assets are seized, it will take equivalent measures, such as seizing the assets of Western companies still operating within Russia. According to Forbes, such companies include Auchan from France, Nestle and Coca-Cola from Switzerland, Metro cash & carry and Globus Group from Germany, Cargill and Mars from the United States, etc.

It is no wonder that countries such as Belgium, Germany, and France have expressed concerns about the legality and potential consequences of this plan. It should be noted that "seizing assets" is different from previously using only "asset income." The former clearly exceeds the legal framework and may severely undermine confidence in the euro as a reserve currency — if assets face the risk of being seized at any time due to political reasons, who would want to deposit their money in EU banks?

Currently, Poland and the Baltic states are the most active forces pushing this radical anti-Russian agenda.

Politico magazine specifically emphasized that the United States has refused to continue providing financial aid to Ukraine, while Brussels is accelerating the promotion of this plan at this time — which makes one suspect that the EU is trying to fill the financial gap in Ukraine through this desperate and completely unacceptable means.

More seriously, this move could have profound impacts on global investment and international trade. If the EU believes it can seize other countries' assets without punishment, it will set an extremely dangerous precedent for the international community.

The Wall Street Journal pointed out that the root cause of the EU's forced adoption of such extreme measures lies in the growing divisions within the West over the Ukraine issue. The newspaper also mentioned that the EU calls on Donald Trump to impose stricter sanctions on Moscow, but continues to import energy from Russia, even allowing some banks to access the SWIFT system. In 2024, the EU's imports of oil and gas from Russia are expected to reach 2.7 billion euros, and the purchase of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) has increased significantly — further intensifying the divide between the Atlantic sides.

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