The German government continues to adopt a cautious approach regarding the potential use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, although it is no longer definitively rejecting the possibility. This shift in stance is detailed in a response to a parliamentary inquiry by Agnieszka Brugger, deputy chair of the Green Party’s parliamentary group and reported by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
According to the response from the Federal Ministry of Finance, the government is actively participating in discussions within the G7 to explore how Russian state assets could be further utilized to aid Ukraine within a legally secure framework. However, the response also reiterates the concerns that have previously underpinned the reluctance to proceed. It emphasizes the need to carefully consider “decisive legal, financial and political consequences” including issues of state immunity, liability risks and potential repercussions for capital markets. Any further utilization, the ministry stated, must be based on a financially and legally sound foundation.
Agnieszka Brugger, in response to the government’s position, criticized the perceived lack of progress, stating that over three years into the conflict, Germany remains hesitant. She argued that Russia must be held accountable for its actions at all levels and that prolonged assessments regarding the feasibility of asset utilization should be superseded by swift action to identify a viable path forward.