The release of the debate on the Russian assets of Europe

There has been little movement in EU circles on the question of using more than 200 billion euros ($227 billion) of freed Russian assets since Sweden reopened the issue a month ago, but those who want to move the matter forward more and more are meeting their ideas.

Months after the idea of direct use of Russian assets was shot down in Brussels, Sweden led a new push on August 27 to reopen the question as a way to provide new support to Ukraine without hurting EU taxpayers and voters.

The idea has taken on a fresh sense of urgency with President Volodymyr Zelensky's claim that Kiev faces a $27 billion hole in its budget for 2026, and because third countries have yet to step in to cover the remaining third of what Ukraine needs, which is already unpaid from the EU's 90 billion euro ($102 billion) support loan.

Photo: Antonio Masiello/Getty Images.