Bangladesh, Dec. 13 -- The European Unions long-running debate over whether to seize frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine has entered a more contentious and legally fraught phase. While Brussels continues to search for ways to sustain financial support for Kyiv, growing resistance from within the bloc highlights fears that crossing this legal Rubicon could permanently damage the EUs financial credibility and expose member states to severe economic retaliation.

According to a Politico Europe report published on December 12, Italy, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Malta have formally urged the European Commission and the European Council to explore alternatives to outright confiscation of frozen Russian assets. In an internal document cited by t...