Four EU Nations Urge Use of Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine
Sweden, Netherlands, Spain, and Poland have written to the European Commission to restart discussions.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made

Четыре страны ЕС давят на Брюссель из-за замороженных активов РФ, - FT
Photograph: rbc.ua (embedded from source)
What this story says
- Four EU countries, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland, have called on the European Commission to resume work on using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine.
- The plan to use over €200 billion of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine failed last winter due to Belgium's opposition.
- Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard stated that the EU's €90 billion loan is insufficient for Ukraine's needs.
- Belgium has previously expressed concerns about potential legal and financial risks associated with using frozen Russian assets.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 41 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 34 of the 75 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
50/100
Craft
60/100
Hype
20/100
75 sources · methodology
Missing from the right
Only 13 of the 41 outlets with a published leaning rating that ran this story are rated right.
A reader who follows the right would not have seen this. We report the absence rather than explain it: outlets choose what to cover for many reasons, and we have no evidence about which one applies here.
Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland have urged the European Commission to restart efforts to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. The four nations have prepared a joint letter to the commission, according to reports. This initiative comes as concerns grow about Ukraine's financial needs and follows a previous attempt to utilise these assets that was blocked.
Disagreement on Commission Receipt of Letter
While several reports state that a coalition of four EU countries has prepared and will send a letter to the European Commission, one source indicates the commission has not yet received it. Interfax reports that a European Commission spokesman stated the commission had not received a letter from the four member states regarding the use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, though the issue remains on the agenda.
What the coverage left out
None of the left, centre, or right-rated reports below mention the specific figure of €200 billion in frozen Russian assets that the plan aims to utilise, although this figure is present in some unrated digests.
Coverage settled. We checked this 9 times and stopped on 1 Sept 2026, 23:30. The figures above are what it finished at.
How other outlets pictured it
Which photograph to run is each newsroom’s own choice. The leaning beside a name is that outlet’s published rating, not a claim that the pictures divide along it. Every picture is shown from the outlet’s own server and links to the article it ran in.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
17 rated outlets
- Left-rated reports focused on the call from Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland to the European Commission to resume work on using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. These reports highlighted that the €90 billion loan provided by the EU is insufficient for Ukraine's needs, citing Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. Several left-rated outlets noted that Belgium's opposition, due to legal and financial risks, had previously blocked the plan. Some reports also mentioned Ukraine's significant funding shortfall, with Politico Europe stating Ukraine faces a €23 billion hole in its defense budget.
Centre
11 rated outlets
- Reuters, UPI, Eesti Rahvusringhääling, El Periódico, Euronews, Lietuvos Radijas and Digi24 all reported that the foreign ministers of the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden sent a letter to the European Commission urging a revival of the proposal to channel frozen Russian sovereign assets into financing for Ukraine.
- Digi24’s full article added that the assets total more than €200 billion, that profits already support a €50 billion loan, and that a separate €90 billion loan was described as insufficient. It quoted Swedish foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenergard and noted Belgium’s veto was driven by fears of legal retaliation. No other centre digests gave the €200 billion figure or the €50 billion loan detail.
- UPI framed the assets as a way to plug a large financing gap, Eesti highlighted Ukraine’s sizable budget deficit, El Periódico linked the call to President Zelenski’s request for an advance, Euronews mentioned the budget crunch ahead of next‑year elections, and Lietuvos Radijas called it a new plan to transfer Russian assets to Kiev. None of the centre reports included quotations from Ukrainian officials.
Right
13 rated outlets
- Right-rated reports focused on the revival of the plan by some EU circles to support Ukraine using frozen Russian state assets. Yonhap News Agency noted that the push comes as Ukraine is in desperate need of air defence. Aftenposten also reported on the new EU attempt to use frozen Russian funds, citing the Financial Times.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover Four EU Nations Urge Use of Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine?
- Of the 41 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 43% are rated left, 24% are rated centre, 33% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 75. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is Four EU Nations Urge Use of Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 41 rated outlets on this story, 43% are rated left, 24% are rated centre, 33% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of Four EU Nations Urge Use of Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine biased?
- Four EU Nations Urge Use of Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine is one event reported by 75 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which side is not reporting Four EU Nations Urge Use of Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine?
- When we first saw this story, outlets rated right had barely covered it. Coverage accretes for hours after an event, so that is where to look rather than a verdict — the split above is the current count, and it is the one to read.
- Which outlets covered Four EU Nations Urge Use of Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine?
- 75 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- Which EU countries are pushing to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine?
- Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland are the four EU countries that have urged the European Commission to resume work on using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. They have prepared a joint letter to the commission regarding this matter.
- Why did the plan to use frozen Russian assets fail previously?
- The plan to use over €200 billion of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine failed last winter primarily due to Belgium's opposition. Belgium has expressed concerns about potential legal and financial risks associated with such a move.
- Is the EU's current loan sufficient for Ukraine's needs?
- According to Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, the EU's €90 billion loan is insufficient for Ukraine's needs. She stated that this amount covers only about two-thirds of Kyiv's financial requirements until the end of 2027.
Read it at the source
96 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
21- EU lawmakers renew push to seize frozen Russian assets as Ukraine faces its toughest winter yet with a €23 billion defense funding gap (opens Euromaidan Press in a new tab)
Euromaidan Press — is Euromaidan Press biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ukraine’s financial crisis resurrects Europe’s bitter dilemma on Russian frozen assets (opens EU Observer in a new tab)
EU Observer — is EU Observer biased? Our profile of this outlet
- More than 100 MEPs Call for Use of Frozen Russian Assets to Support Ukraine (opens Telegrafi in a new tab)
- 122 MEPs: Russia Must Pay for the Damage It Caused to Ukraine (opens IndexHR in a new tab)
- Four Countries Are Asking the EU to Unfreeze Russian Billions for Aid to Ukraine (opens Dnevni list Danas in a new tab)
Dnevni list Danas — is Dnevni list Danas biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Letter From Four EU Countries to Kalas: Give Frozen Russian Assets to Kiev (opens in.gr in a new tab)
- Four EU Countries Called for the Use of Russian Frozen Assets for Ukraine (opens charter97.org in a new tab)
charter97.org — is charter97.org biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Four Countries Resurrect Plan to Use Russian Assets Frozen in Europe for Ukraine (opens La Vanguardia in a new tab)
La Vanguardia — is La Vanguardia biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 13 more
- EU weighs new options for using frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine (opens uawire.org in a new tab)
uawire.org — is uawire.org biased? Our profile of this outlet
- EU seeks to revive scheme to fund Ukraine war by seizing frozen Russian assets (opens The Cradle in a new tab)
The Cradle — is The Cradle biased? Our profile of this outlet
- ‘Ukraine Needs More Help’: Battle for Frozen Russian Billions Restarts in Brussels (opens De Morgen in a new tab)
- EU States Push to Revive Russian-Asset ‘Reparations Loan’ for Ukraine (opens Kyiv Post in a new tab)
- European Commission has not received letter from 4 member states on using Russian assets for Ukraine, but issue remains on agenda – spokesman (opens Unknown in a new tab)
Unknown
- The EU Wants to Renew the Plan to Use Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine (opens unn.ua in a new tab)
- The EU Wants to Return to the Idea of Using Frozen Russian Assets to Finance Ukraine. (opens Meduza in a new tab)
- Four EU Countries Are Putting Pressure on Brussels over Russia's Frozen Assets. (opens rbc.ua in a new tab)
- Four EU states revive push to use Russia’s frozen billions for Ukraine (opens Euromaidan Press in a new tab)
Euromaidan Press
- Kremlin threatens "legal consequences" over possible use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine (opens censor.net in a new tab)
censor.net — is censor.net biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Poland Are Pressing to Reopen the Debate on Frozen Russian Assets in Order to Help Ukraine. (opens El Pais in a new tab)
- EU heavyweights call on Brussels to reignite frozen Russian asset debate (opens Politico Europe in a new tab)
Politico Europe — is Politico Europe biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ukraine - Russia War, Today's News. New Call From EU Countries to Help Kiev with Frozen Russian Goods. (opens La Repubblica in a new tab)
La Repubblica — is La Repubblica biased? Our profile of this outlet
Centre
14- MEPs, Including Lithuanian Ones, Are Pushing to Use Frozen Russian Billions (opens Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija in a new tab)
- The European Parliament Exerts Pressure on the EU with Regard to the Russian Federation ' S Frozen Assets: 122 Deputies Signed a Letter (opens ZN.UA Зеркало недели in a new tab)
ZN.UA Зеркало недели — is ZN.UA Зеркало недели biased? Our profile of this outlet
- MEPs push to finance Ukraine defence through Russian frozen assets (opens Euronews in a new tab)
- Four EU foreign ministers reopen the fight over Russia's €210bn (opens bne IntelliNews in a new tab)
bne IntelliNews — is bne IntelliNews biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Spain, Sweden, Poland and the Netherlands Ask to Use Russian Frozen Assets to Finance Ukraine (opens El Periódico in a new tab)
El Periódico — is El Periódico biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Four EU countries seek to reopen debate on Russian frozen assets for Ukraine (opens WTVB in a new tab)
- Four EU countries renew push to use Russian assets to support Ukraine (opens Euronews in a new tab)
Euronews
- In the EU, a New Plan for the Transfer of the Russian Federation ' S Assets to Kiewu Is Required. (opens Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija in a new tab)
Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija
Show 6 more
- Four EU Countries Call for Continued Discussion on Frozen Russian Assets (opens Eesti Rahvusringhääling in a new tab)
Eesti Rahvusringhääling — is Eesti Rahvusringhääling biased? Our profile of this outlet
- European Countries Revive Frozen Asset Plan to Counter Russia (opens Bloomberg in a new tab)
- Fresh calls for Brussels to look at diverting Russian money to Ukraine (opens UPI in a new tab)
- EU Countries Relaunch Plan to Use Russian Frozen Assets for Ukraine: "Now Is the Time to Start a New Discussion (opens Digi 24 in a new tab)
- EU Calls for the Resumption of Work on a Plan for the Use of the Russian Federation ' S Frozen Assets for Ukraine (opens ZN.UA Зеркало недели in a new tab)
ZN.UA Зеркало недели
- EU states revive plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, FT reports (opens Reuters in a new tab)
Right
14- Members of the European Parliament have called on the EU to revisit the issue of using frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine (opens news-pravda.com in a new tab)
news-pravda.com — is news-pravda.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Ukraine Pleased with Reopening of Discussion on the Use of Russian Money in the EU (opens Het Laatste Nieuws in a new tab)
Het Laatste Nieuws — is Het Laatste Nieuws biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Pressures for the Use of Russian Assets Frozen in Support of Ukraine. Four EU Countries Call for Resumption of Talks (opens REALITATEA.NET in a new tab)
REALITATEA.NET — is REALITATEA.NET biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Four EU Countries Want to Reopen Debate on Frozen Russian Assets to Help Ukraine (opens Globo in a new tab)
- Four EU countries seek to reopen debate on Russian frozen assets for Ukraine (opens The Straits Times in a new tab)
The Straits Times — is The Straits Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- "Ukraine Needs Money" Idea to Seize Russian Assets Returns (opens tvp.info in a new tab)
- Spain, Along with Three Other Countries, Call for a Revival of the Use of Russian Assets in Europe to Help Ukraine (opens El Debate in a new tab)
- EU Ministers Want to Discuss the Transfer of Russian Assets to Ukraine (opens Korrespondent.net in a new tab)
Korrespondent.net — is Korrespondent.net biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 6 more
- Ukraine War: A New Advance From EU Countries – Russian Money for Ukraine (opens Handelsblatt in a new tab)
Handelsblatt — is Handelsblatt biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The Netherlands Wants the Use of Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine Back on the EU Agenda. (opens BNR Nieuwsradio in a new tab)
BNR Nieuwsradio — is BNR Nieuwsradio biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The Netherlands Wants Frozen Assets on the Agenda of EU Foreign Ministers. (opens Reformatorisch Dagblad in a new tab)
Reformatorisch Dagblad — is Reformatorisch Dagblad biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Frozen Russian Assets, Take Two: What Europe's Revived €210 Billion Plan Means for Ukraine, Belgium and the Euro (opens Modern Diplomacy in a new tab)
Modern Diplomacy — is Modern Diplomacy biased? Our profile of this outlet
- "Let's Help Ukraine, in Desperate Need of Air Defense, with Russian Frozen Assets"… Revisited in some EU Circles (opens 연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency in a new tab)
연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency — is 연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Nytt EU-forsøk på å bruke frosne Russland-midler (opens Aftenposten in a new tab)
Aftenposten — is Aftenposten biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
47- The European Parliament Wants to Resume Negotiations on the Transfer of Frozen Assets of the Russian Federation to Ukraine (opens nikvesti.com in a new tab)
nikvesti.com — is nikvesti.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Europe Comes Back on the €21 Billion Russians: 122 MEPs Want Moscow to Pay for the War (opens TotalNews Agency USA Español in a new tab)
TotalNews Agency USA Español — is TotalNews Agency USA Español biased? Our profile of this outlet
- MEPs rally behind Poland-backed plan for frozen Russian assets (opens tvpworld.com in a new tab)
tvpworld.com — is tvpworld.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- MEPs Want to Seize Russia's Frozen Assets. Appeal to EU Authorities (opens Rzeczpospolita in a new tab)
Rzeczpospolita — is Rzeczpospolita biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Over 100 EU Legislators Urge Resumption of Talks on Frozen Russian Ass (opens knews.media in a new tab)
knews.media — is knews.media biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Bulgarian MEPs Are in a New Initiative for Frozen Russian Assets (opens dnevnik.bg in a new tab)
dnevnik.bg — is dnevnik.bg biased? Our profile of this outlet
- More than 100 MEPs Call for Resumption of Talks on Frozen Assets of the Russian Federation (opens babel.ua in a new tab)
- Members of the European Parliament Request the Use of Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine (opens nin.rs in a new tab)
Show 39 more
- Media: More than 100 MEPs Called for Resumption of Debate on Ukraine's Funding From Rosactives (opens Unknown in a new tab)
Unknown
- More than 120 MEPs Urged to Use Frozen Assets of the Russian Federation for Ukraine (opens Gazeta.ua in a new tab)
- MEPs Call for Resumption of Discussion on Immobilized Assets of the Russian Federation (opens espreso.tv in a new tab)
espreso.tv — is espreso.tv biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Over 100 MEPs Supported Poland's Initiative. Pressure to Use Russian Assets Is Growing. (opens rmf24.pl in a new tab)
- More than 100 MEPs Call for Reopening Talks on the Use of Russian Frozen Assets to Support Ukraine: Moscow Must Pay for the Damage Caused (opens caleaeuropeana.ro in a new tab)
caleaeuropeana.ro — is caleaeuropeana.ro biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sibiga Urged to Use Frozen Assets of the Russian Federation to Support Ukraine (opens 5 канал in a new tab)
- Poland Appeals for Help for Ukraine From Russia's Frozen Assets (opens Defence24 in a new tab)
- EU states advance plans to deploy frozen Russian assets for Ukraine aid (opens WTX News in a new tab)
- Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and Poland Resurrect in Brussels the Plan of Russian Assets Frozen for Ukraine (opens Moncloa in a new tab)
- EU: 4 Countries Charge Use of Russian Frozen Assets to Help Ukraine (opens Metrópoles in a new tab)
Metrópoles — is Metrópoles biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Spain and Three Partners Call on the EU to Reopen the Debate on Frozen Russian Assets to Finance Ukraine (opens Merca2.es in a new tab)
- Spain, Sweden, Poland and the Netherlands Ask the EU to Use Russian Assets Frozen for Ukraine (opens diarioestrategia.cl in a new tab)
diarioestrategia.cl — is diarioestrategia.cl biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Four EU Countries Call for Release of Frozen Russian Funds (opens CNN Greece in a new tab)
CNN Greece — is CNN Greece biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Four EU Countries Are Reviving the Idea of Using Frozen Russian Assets in Europe to Support Ukraine (opens vijesti.me in a new tab)
vijesti.me — is vijesti.me biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The EU Wants to Seize €210 Billion From Russia. Poland Is Among the Initiators. (opens Do Rzeczy in a new tab)
- Four EU Countries Are Pushing for a New Deal. They Want to Use Frozen Russian Billions to Help Ukraine (opens Hospodárske Noviny in a new tab)
Hospodárske Noviny — is Hospodárske Noviny biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Frozen Russian Assets: Four EU Countries Want to Explore "New Options" (opens rtl.lu in a new tab)
- Four Countries Call for Further Debate on the Use of Frozen Russian Assets (opens Noticias ao Minuto in a new tab)
Noticias ao Minuto — is Noticias ao Minuto biased? Our profile of this outlet
- EU Countries Want to Resume Debate on Blocked Russian Resources (opens CNN Brasil in a new tab)
CNN Brasil — is CNN Brasil biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Spain, Sweden, Poland and the Netherlands Ask to Use Russian Frozen Assets to Finance Ukraine (opens elcorreoweb.es in a new tab)
elcorreoweb.es — is elcorreoweb.es biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Spain, Sweden, Poland and the Netherlands Ask to Use Russian Frozen Assets to Finance Ukraine (opens informacion.es in a new tab)
informacion.es — is informacion.es biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The European Commission Said that the Issue of Frozen Assets of the Russian Federation Was Not Removed From the Agenda (opens Новое Время in a new tab)
Новое Время
- Four Major EU Countries: We Should Use Putin's Money Now (opens borsen.dk in a new tab)
borsen.dk — is borsen.dk biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- EU Prepares to Use €210 Billion in Frozen Russian Assets to Support Ukraine’s Defense (opens The Zambian Observer in a new tab)
The Zambian Observer — is The Zambian Observer biased? Our profile of this outlet
- In the European Commission, the Return to the Subject of the Transfer of Russian Frozen Assets to Ukraine Was a Case in Point. (opens currenttime.tv in a new tab)
currenttime.tv — is currenttime.tv biased? Our profile of this outlet
- 200 Billion Euros for the Armed Forces: 4 EU Countries Put Forward a Tough Requirement for Russian Assets (opens ТСН.ua in a new tab)
- ‘Broad-Supported’ Coalition of European Countries Revives Euroclear Track (opens De Tijd in a new tab)
- Four EU Countries Urge Brussels to Revisit the Issue of Frozen Russian Assets (opens vz.lt in a new tab)
- Four EU Countries Have Called on Brussels to Resume Talks on the Frozen Assets of the Russian Federation. The European Commission Responded (opens babel.ua in a new tab)
babel.ua
- Poland and Its Allies Want to Seize €200 Billion From Russia. Belgium Is Blocking the Plan. (opens Rzeczpospolita in a new tab)
Rzeczpospolita
- A Number of EU Countries Called for a Return to the Use of Russia's Assets to Finance Ukraine (opens Unknown in a new tab)
Unknown
- Which EU Countries Want to Use Russia's Assets (opens tvrain.tv in a new tab)
- Russia Attacks Institutions of the Ukrainian Army (opens stol.it in a new tab)
- FT: EU states revive plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine (opens Kathimerini English Edition in a new tab)
Kathimerini English Edition — is Kathimerini English Edition biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The EU Has Again Taken over Russia's Frozen Billions. Allies Start Looking for a Way to Bypass Belgium's Veto (opens Unknown in a new tab)
Unknown
- Four Countries Wrote a Letter to the European Commission Urging the Use of Frozen Assets of the Russian Federation (opens Gazeta.ua in a new tab)
Gazeta.ua
- New EU Attempt to Use Frozen Russia Funds (opens VG in a new tab)
- "FT: Several EU Countries Demand the Use of Russian Assets (opens ORF.at News in a new tab)
ORF.at News — is ORF.at News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FT: Four EU Countries Have Prepared a Letter to the European Commission on the Frozen Assets of the Russian Federation for Ukraine (opens Unknown in a new tab)
Unknown
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