The European Union has received €1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) in profits generated from immobilized Russian central bank assets, the European Commission said on Wednesday, April 1.
The funds, derived from interest accumulated on frozen assets held within the EU, will be directed to support Ukraine.
According to the European Commission, 95% of the proceeds will be used to support Ukraine through the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism, which helps Kyiv service loans provided by the EU and G7 partners.
The remaining 5% will be allocated via the European Peace Facility to address Ukraine’s military and defense needs.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the funds would help sustain public services and support Ukraine’s armed forces.
Part of broader sanctions framework
The revenue comes from Russian Central Bank assets immobilized under EU sanctions imposed after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
While the assets themselves remain frozen, the EU has authorized the use of profits generated from them to support Ukraine.
This marks the fourth such transfer, following previous tranches delivered in 2024 and 2025.
The transfer comes as EU leaders agreed on a separate €90 billion ($106 billion) loan package for Ukraine for 2026-2027, reached during overnight talks in Brussels. The deal was approved despite continued disagreements over whether to use frozen Russian state assets as collateral for broader funding.
While the EU has immobilized more than €200 billion in Russian assets, member states remain divided over their direct use due to legal and financial risks. Countries such as Belgium, which holds a significant share of the assets, have raised concerns about potential retaliation and liability, while Hungary and Slovakia have also expressed skepticism.
As a result, the EU opted to proceed with joint borrowing to finance Ukraine’s needs, while continuing to debate longer-term mechanisms involving Russian assets.
Under EU rules adopted in 2024, financial institutions holding Russian state assets are required to set aside profits generated from those funds.
In May 2024, the EU approved legal measures allowing these proceeds to be redirected to Ukraine.
In December 2025, the bloc further reinforced restrictions by prohibiting the return of immobilized Russian central bank assets to Russia.