Berlin, Feb. 27 -- Germany has ruled out the EU's previous idea of using Russia's considerable assets frozen in European banks as loan to aid Ukraine, with the country's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul saying the issue is, at least for the moment, no longer on the bloc's agenda.
Western countries froze over $300 billion worth of Russian sovereign assets after the war in Ukraine broke out in 2022. The majority is held at the Belgian-based Euroclear depository.
The issue of using Russian assets to aid Kyiv has been highly controversial and has caused considerable friction within the bloc, with many countries strongly opposed to the idea amid fears of Russian economic retaliation.
Belgium has long opposed the idea of seizing Moscow's asset...