Council of the EU decides to prohibit any transfer of immobilised Russian central-bank assets back to Russia to prevent the Kremlin from regaining access to frozen funds

The decision confirms that EU member states must not release, return or otherwise transfer immobilised Central Bank of Russia assets held in their jurisdictions, reinforcing restrictive measures adopted in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. It also provides legal clarity ahead of forthcoming EU action on the use of windfall profits generated from these assets, ensuring that Russia cannot reclaim or benefit from them while its aggression continues.