Belgium demands guarantees, does not want to bear the risk of using Russian assets alone

Belgium warns that without a common approach to the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, the EU is taking too great a risk.

Prime Minister Bart De Wever stated at the summit in Copenhagen that his country could only agree to the use of the assets—most of which are located in Belgium—if it received written guarantees from the other member states. These guarantees would have to ensure that any legal consequences would not fall solely on Brussels' shoulders.

EU leaders have so far supported the idea of a €140 billion loan for Ukraine, but the legal details remain unresolved.

The European Commission proposes to use the proceeds from Russian assets in 2026 and 2027, as direct military aid from the US to Kiev is winding down. The Kremlin called the plan “pure theft.”

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised that the Commission would work on a solution and take Belgium's concerns into account.

De Wever added that he wanted to be a partner but needed legal certainty and solidarity in the event of a conflict with Moscow.

(reuters, lup)