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Russian central bank says EU plans to use its assets are illegal

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on December 12, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 20, 2026

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Russian central bank says EU plans to use its assets are illegal
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MOSCOW, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Russia's central bank on Friday said published proposals by the European Union to use its assets are illegal and that it reserves the right to employ all available means to

Russian Central Bank Calls EU Asset Use Plans Illegal

MOSCOW, ‌Dec 12 (Reuters) - Russia's central bank on Friday said published ‍proposals ‌by the European Union to use its assets are ⁠illegal and that it ‌reserves the right to employ all available means to protect its interests.

"Mechanisms of direct or indirect use of the assets of ⁠the Bank of Russia, as well as any other forms of ​unauthorized use of the assets of the ‌Bank of Russia, are ⁠illegal and contrary to international law, including violating the principles of sovereign immunity of assets," the bank said.

The ​bank referred to an EU Commission press release, published on December 3 which outlined two solutions to support Ukraine's financing needs in 2026 and 2027.

Under one of ​those ‍solutions, the EU ​Commission would be able to borrow cash balances from EU financial institutions holding frozen assets of the Russian central bank assets to issue a reparations loan for Ukraine.

Russian officials have repeatedly said such action would be met ⁠with "the harshest reaction".

The central bank said implementation of such plans will be challenged in "national ​courts, judicial authorities of foreign states and international organizations, arbitral tribunals and other international judicial instances, followed by the enforcement of judicial decisions in ‌the territories of UN member states".

(Reporting by Anton Kolodyazhny and Gleb Bryanski; Editing by Vladimir Soldatkin and Christopher Cushing)

Key Takeaways

  • Russian central bank opposes EU's asset use proposals.
  • EU plans include using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine.
  • Russia claims such actions violate international law.
  • Central bank vows to challenge actions in courts.
  • EU's proposals aim to support Ukraine's 2026-2027 needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a central bank?
A central bank is a national institution that manages a country's currency, money supply, and interest rates. It also oversees the banking system and implements monetary policy to ensure economic stability.
What is monetary policy?
Monetary policy refers to the actions taken by a central bank to control the money supply and interest rates to achieve macroeconomic goals such as controlling inflation, consumption, growth, and liquidity.
What is sovereign immunity?
Sovereign immunity is a legal doctrine that protects a sovereign state from being sued in its own courts without its consent. It is a principle that upholds the independence of states in international law.

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