# Reeves urges EU to ‘act now’ and seize £175bn of Russian assets to protect Ukraine

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/reeves-urges-eu-to-act-now-and-seize-175bn-of-russian-assets-to-protect-ukraine/
- Published: 2026-10-29T22:35:38+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-29T23:55:32+00:00
- Original publisher: The Independent (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rachel-reeves-ukraine-russian-assets-eu-b3076054.html
- Topics: Europe, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Reeves wants the EU to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine.
- The €210bn could fund Ukraine’s defence into 2029.
- Her proposal includes safeguards against Russian retaliation.

## Summary

Rachel Reeves has urged the EU to take custody of €210bn (£175bn) in frozen Russian assets and use the money to support Ukraine’s defence. She warned that without further funding, Ukraine’s ability to resist Russia could be seriously weakened, putting European security at risk.

Reeves made the appeal in a joint article with former senior politicians from Germany, France and Canada, as Ukraine faces a difficult winter and uncertainty over US support. They said the funds could finance Ukraine’s defence into 2029 and proposed transferring the assets and associated liabilities to the EU, with safeguards against possible Russian retaliation. A previous effort to use the money stalled over concerns about risks to the Belgian bank holding most of it.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.