Baltics Renew Push for Seizure of Russian Frozen Assets

Lithuania is appealing to Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, to come on board with a proposal to seize Russia’s immobilized central bank assets as the European Union debates ways to finance support for Ukraine.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said he wants Berlin to demonstrate leadership and to tell partners to use about €200 billion ($225 billion) in assets that have been frozen in Europe before moving to a debate on how to share the responsibility for the consequences such a move would entail.