The Netherlands has already seized several hundred million euros in Ukrainian assets in the Netherlands, according to finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem.

On Wednesday, the EU published a list of 18 Ukrainian officials suspected of stealing state money, including the ousted president Viktor Yanukovich.

Speaking on the Pauw & Witteman television talk show on Thursday evening, Dijsselbloem said some of the money was in a personal account held by someone on the list. Some was money which had been placed in a financial holding company linked to another of the 18.

Dijssebloem said he did not know if Yanukovich had money stashed in the Netherlands.

Oligarchs

Earlier this week, Dijsselbloem told parliament Ukrainian oligarchs have over the past few weeks tried to remove money which they have stashed in Dutch financial institutions.

Various reports of ‘unusual transactions’ have been made to the Financial Intelligence Unit, Dijsselbloem is quoted as saying by broadcaster Nos.

The minister refused to say how many reports had been made or what was done with them, Nos television reported. Banks are required by law to report potential transactions which they have their doubts about to the authorities.