Policy Backgrounders

The Conference Board uses cookies to improve our website, enhance your experience, and deliver relevant messages and offers about our products. Detailed information on the use of cookies on this site is provided in our cookie policy. For more information on how The Conference Board collects and uses personal data, please visit our privacy policy. By continuing to use this Site or by clicking "OK", you consent to the use of cookies.

- Email
- Linkedin
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Copy Link

Geopolitics Hub

Policy Backgrounders

CED’s Policy Backgrounders provide timely insights on prominent business and economic policy issues facing the nation.

Seizing Russian Assets?

February 21, 2024

Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead™

Challenges in approving further economic and military aid for Ukraine in both the US and the European Union have focused attention on the idea of seizing certain Russian assets under sanctions and using the proceeds, or possibly interest on the proceeds of the seized assets, for Ukraine reconstruction.

In both the US and EU, the path to seize Russian assets is difficult. Each house of the US Congress has passed a version of a bill that would confiscate official government Russian assets held here (about $5 billion) and use the proceeds for Ukraine reconstruction, not military aid.
The EU has approved a law for a windfall profits tax on the interest on certain seized assets for Ukraine reconstruction, but no money has yet been seized.
Policymakers are proceeding cautiously because any actual seizure of assets could lead both to significant Russian retaliation, including actual seizure of Western assets in Russia and to additional consequences, such as the increasing split of countries in the Global South from the Western financial system, including SWIFT and Euroclear.

Download Brief

This publication is complimentary, but you must be signed in. Please sign in or create an account.

Sign In
Create An Account

By Clicking 'Create Account',
You Agree To Our Terms Of Use

Create Account

Members of The Conference Board get exclusive access to Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead^TM through publications, Conferences and events, webcasts, podcasts, data & analysis, and Member Communities.