EU Plans New Sanctions on Russia, to Use €200 Billion Frozen Assets and €150 Billion Rearmament Fund; Russia Warns of Countermeasures

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans for additional sanctions against Russia amid ongoing conflict concerns. The EU is advancing efforts to utilize nearly €200 billion in frozen Russian assets by transferring them into a special fund aimed at supporting Ukraine's reconstruction. Additionally, the Commission has received requests to deploy the full €150 billion available under the EU's 'Safe' rearmament plan. In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that the illegal transfer of Russian funds to Kyiv could lead to countries losing trust in the Western financial system and indicated that Russia reserves the right to take necessary countermeasures.