German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 13, 2025, that frozen Russian assets could be confiscated if permitted by law. In an interview with Die Zeit, he stressed that the possibility of seizing assets was being actively considered.

"If it becomes possible to use these funds on a sound legal basis, we will do so. However, we must also be aware of the risks that such a step could entail for the European financial market," — Merz noted.

According to him, Germany is coordinating its actions with its EU and G7 partners to ensure legal clarity and minimize economic consequences.

Merz's statement came amid preparations for the 17th round of sanctions against Russia, which is being discussed in Brussels. According to Reuters, the new measures will affect the energy and banking sectors, as well as personal sanctions against Russian officials and businessmen. In the energy sector, a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), which still enters Europe via third countries, is being considered. In the banking sector, additional restrictions on operations by Russian financial institutions and increased control over cryptocurrency transactions used to circumvent sanctions are being discussed.

The issue of confiscating Russian assets remains one of the most controversial topics in the EU. According to the European Commission, about 200 billion euros of assets of the Russian Central Bank are frozen in EU countries, of which 3,5 billion euros are in Germany.