EU transfers 1.4 billion euros from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine

On August 5, 2026, the European Commission announced that the European Union has made 1.4 billion euros in interest generated from frozen Russian central bank assets available to Ukraine. This move is intended to provide direct financial support for Ukraine's defense efforts against the ongoing Russian invasion.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that these funds serve to ensure Russia bears some of the financial burden for the destruction caused by the war. The money specifically comes from interest accrued on cash balances held by the Russian central bank, which have been immobilized within the EU since the beginning of the full-scale conflict.

These funds constitute part of a broader strategy by Western allies to utilize the proceeds from seized Russian assets to assist Kyiv. The European Commission emphasized that the allocation of these financial resources is meant to bolster Ukraine's continued resistance against what the commission described as an illegal war initiated by Moscow.