Alle Waffen, die die Ukraine kaufen könnte, wenn russisches Bargeld im Wert von 265 Milliarden Pfund freigegeben würde

Ukraine will be able to choose how billions of pounds of frozen Russian assets are spent if Europe ploughs on with plans to release them, with options ranging from missiles to reconstruction.

The [UK has frozen around £25bn of Russian assets](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-sanctions-freeze-25bn-of-russian-assets) since the invasion, while the [EU holds about €210bn (£184bn)](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2025/775908/EPRS_BRI(2025)775908_EN.pdf), with the total coming to about £265bn worldwide.

British sanctions minister Stephen Doughty told *The i Paper* that the UK is “exploring every possible” way to legally spend [Russian assets frozen in British bank accounts to support Ukraine](https://inews.co.uk/news/britain-unlock-russias-dirty-money-heres-how-used-4035021?ico=in-line_link) – a move that would break nearly four years of deadlock. The EU is hoping to settle the plan to use Russian assets as soon as next week.

One diplomatic insider stressed that the spending of the assets would be led by Ukraine, with the UK and its allies keen to fit around Kyiv’s requirements rather than donate what is easily available.

Such a large fund would be likely to cover a diverse range of support, the insider said.

The purchases would also reflect the situation on the battlefield at the time any assets were spent. If the war is still raging, it is more likely to fund military equipment, but if a ceasefire is on the horizon it will be used for reconstruction efforts.

So far, the UK and its allies have only spent the interest accrued on the assets in support of Ukraine, [totalling around £6bn last year](https://cepa.org/article/russian-assets-milking-the-sacred-cow/).

This is largely down to fears of legal challenges and other repercussions from Russia, particularly from Belgium, which holds most of the assets, but also that it could set a [dangerous precedent.](https://inews.co.uk/news/britain-unlock-russias-dirty-money-heres-how-used-4035021?ico=in-line_link)

But, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said that the [UK is “ready to progress” to using the full value of frozen Russian assets](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62np269qv9o) to support Ukraine.

Unlocking them would [more than double Britain’s contribution](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-support-to-ukraine-factsheet/uk-support-to-ukraine-factsheet) to Ukraine’s war effort at little cost to the taxpayer. The funds could be spent on a range of military capabilities – but some politically sensitive items are likely to remain out of reach.