Core Viewpoint - The European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde stated that the European Commission's latest proposal to use frozen Russian assets as collateral for financing Ukraine is the closest to complying with international law so far [1] Group 1: Proposal Details - The European Commission's proposal cannot deprive Russia of ownership of these assets [1] - Lagarde emphasized the need for the EU to clarify that it is not attempting to seize Russia's sovereign assets for its own benefit to alleviate investor concerns [1] Group 2: Concerns and Implications - Lagarde has long expressed concerns about the use of frozen Russian assets [1] - The European Central Bank is eager for any outcome to respect international law, as failure to do so could damage the global reputation of the euro [1]

Core Viewpoint - France maintains a firm stance on respecting international law and opposes the EU's initiatives regarding the potential confiscation of Russian assets [1][3] Group 1 - The French ambassador to Moscow, Nicolas de Riviere, emphasized that President Emmanuel Macron has clearly stated that the issue of asset confiscation is not on the agenda [3] - France's only action in recent years has been to use the profits generated from these assets to aid Ukraine, meaning only the returns from investments have been utilized [3] - The ambassador reiterated that France has no plans to confiscate assets that do not belong to them, highlighting the importance of adhering to the law for everyone [3]