EU’s Indefinite Freeze on Russian Assets: A Cautionary Tale of Overreach and Risk to American Interests

In a move emblematic of growing European fracture and overreach, the European Union has approved the indefinite freezing of approximately €210 billion ($220+ billion) in Russian assets. This unprecedented step, propelled by Brussels’ desire to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, bypasses prior six-month renewals and leans heavily on emergency powers under Article 122 of EU treaties. While framed as solidarity with Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts, one must ask: at what cost? The EU’s unilateral seizure without unanimous backing—Hungary strongly opposed it—signals deeper disunity within the bloc. Countries like Belgium continue to veto plans to deploy these frozen assets due...