BRUSSELS, Dec 12 - The European Union looked set on Friday to indefinitely freeze Russian central bank assets held in Europe, removing a big obstacle to using the cash to help Ukraine defend itself against Moscow's invasion.

EU governments aim to sign off by 1600 GMT, through a qualified majority vote, on a plan to immobilise ‍210 ​billion euros ($246 billion) worth of Russian sovereign assets for as long as needed to prevent major economic ‍disruption to the EU economy.