The European Union looked set on Friday to indefinitely freeze Russian central bank assets held in Europe, removing a big obstacle to using the cash to help Ukraine defend itself against Moscow's invasion,
Reuters reports.
EU governments aim to sign off by 1600 GMT, through a qualified majority vote, on a plan to immobilise 210 billion euros ($246 billion) worth of Russian sovereign assets for as long as needed to prevent major economic disruption to the EU economy.
The new freeze, which would stay in place "until there is no longer an immediate threat to the economic interests of the Union", will replace the current system which requires a roll-over of the freeze every six months by unanimity.
This will remove the risk that Hungary and Slovakia, which have better relations with Moscow than other EU states, could refuse to roll over the freeze at some point forcing the EU to return the money to Russia.
