Will Europe finally unlock Russia’s frozen assets for Ukraine?

  • Wed, May 20, 2026 • 12:00 pm ET
  • Virtual event

The Eurasia Center explores the debate surrounding frozen Russian assets and how they could be leveraged to support Ukraine.

On Wednesday, May 20 at 12:00 p.m. ET, the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center will host a discussion examining the issue of Russian frozen assets and their potential use to support Ukraine.

Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen has reignited debate over whether frozen Russian state assets should be used to help Ukraine defend itself against the Kremlin’s aggression. The issue, previously sidelined by Belgium, remains politically, legally, and commercially contentious within Europe and among Ukraine’s partners. Renewed momentum follows former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s electoral defeat, which cleared the way for the European Union to advance a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine.

This conversation will explore the current status of the loan package, the broader debate surrounding Russia’s frozen assets, and what these developments could mean for Ukraine’s long-term defense and reconstruction.

Please complete the form below to register for this event.

Speakers

Hugo Dixon
Commentator-at-Large,
Reuters

Ambassador John Herbst
Senior Director, Eurasia Center,
Atlantic Council

Charles Lichfield
Director, Economic Foresight & Analysis;
C. Boyden Gray Senior Fellow, GeoEconomics Center,
Atlantic Council

Daleep Singh
Vice Chair and Chief Global Economist,
PGIM;
Former US Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics

Moderated by

Shelby Magid
Deputy Director, Eurasia Center,
Atlantic Council

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The Eurasia Center’s mission is to promote policies that strengthen stability, democratic values, and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe in the West to the Caucasus, Russia, and Central Asia in the East.

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