Russian assets have to remain on EU soil – Mathernova praises Council's decision
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova stressed the importance of today's decision by the EU Council to immobilize Russian assets without a specific deadline, including because it may contribute to the adoption of a decision on a reparations loan for Ukraine.
Mathernova spoke this in an exclusive comment to an Ukrinform correspondent in Brussels.
"I think it's an extremely important step, especially because what this decision means is that the assets are immobilized without the time limit," said the ambassador.
She added she wished the good news "went a little bit further" but nevertheless the decision made by the Council of the EU is important.
Mathernova said that, essentially, this move takes the immobilized assets out of the sanctions regime.
"So the two things are no longer connected, which means that these assets will remain immobilized indefinitely, or as Europe said, politically, until Russia pays reparations to Ukraine," noted the EU Ambassador to Ukraine.
Although it is not yet a decision on the actual use of the assets which Mathernova says she expects to be adopted next week at the EU leaders' summit, it is an important step because it "forbids the Russian assets to be given back to Russia."
"They have to remain on EU soil," stressed the ambassador.
Asked whether she thinks todays decision may ease some of the concerns voiced by Belgium and Euroclear depository, Katarina Maternova said: "It's hard to say whether it will. What I can say is that I very much hope it will. And I very much hope and look forward to having an important decision next week.
As Ukrinform reported, the EU Council today decided to temporarily prohibit any transfer of frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia to the Russian Federation.
The press service explained that without such a ban, any additional resources would be directly used by Russia to finance its military aggression against Ukraine, with serious consequences for the economy of the European Union and its member states.
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