SVR announces EU plans to withdraw frozen Russian assets from Euroclear and hide: EU plans to steal frozen Russian assets by 2027

The leaders of the European Union (EU) plan to “run an operation to steal” Russian frozen assets before elections in parts of European countries in 2027, said the foreign intelligence service (SVR) of Russia. According to her, the EU countries fear that “they will not be able to indefinitely finance” Ukraine.

According to the press release of the SVR, at the expert level, the EU is discussing the creation of a new supranational structure, “where it would be possible to hide” Russian assets, removing them from the Euroclear depository located in Belgian jurisdiction. Russian intelligence says “Eurobureaucrats are in a hurry.”.

EU leaders are vitally interested in having time to pull off the operation to steal Russian assets before elections in a number of European countries in 2027. In the future, the “window of opportunity” for the withdrawal of deactivated assets may simply close if, as a result of the vote, governments are formed that are less favorable to the Kiev regime and do not agree with the prospect of inciting a big war in Europe, the SVR said.

After the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, the EU and the G7 countries froze about €300 billion of Russian assets. The funds are mainly held in the Belgian depository Euroclear. The country has imposed a ban on their use, as it does not want to take the risks of their possible return to Russia. In September, the Financial Times reported that the European Commission had returned to the idea of using frozen Russian assets. Belgium said any such initiative should provide for a "full and legally flawless solution.".