US EditionMerz dashes to Brussels for talks with De Wever and VDL on Russian assets
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met Belgian and EU leaders to resolve Belgium's opposition to a €90 billion loan plan using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, amid urgent funding needs.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rushed to Brussels Friday, canceling a planned Oslo trip for a private dinner with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to ease Belgian resistance.
- Belgium this week rejected EU proposals to use immobilized Russian central-bank funds to issue 90 billion, citing fears it could be forced to repay the loan alone, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned of a €135 billion two-year need, with the commission's €90 billion loan plan leaving a €45 billion budget hole through 2027.
- Valdis Dombrovskis told journalists international partners including the United Kingdom and Canada showed interest in replicating the reparation-loan approach as Ukraine faces funding shortfalls next year.
- Some remaining frozen assets total 210 billion and could be tapped from 2028 ahead of the Dec. 18 summit, with officials hoping a Wednesday legal proposal will enable EU leaders to sign off on the plan.
35 Articles
35 Articles
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz goes to Belgium tomorrow to convince him of his Belgian legitimacy of the European Commission's plan to use the Russian assets frozen in Europe to finance Ukraine's financial needs, he explained, according to AFP, according to Agerpres.
Ukraine needs a lot of money - and in Belgium there is a large part of Russian state assets abroad. Chancellor Merz and Commission President von der Leyen want to access it - but they have to do convincing work.
According to The Guardian publication, the meeting will take place in private form on the basis of Belgium's firm opposition to one of the main analysed options: the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.Two weeks before the EU summit of 18 December, Ursula von der Leyen presented two variants by which the Union could narrow the necessary funds: whether loans from international markets guaranteed by the EU budget or the issue of a loan…
The Danish EU presidency will try to pave the way for billion-dollar loans to Ukraine from Russian funds.
The Straits Times
The Star Kuala LumpurBelgian PM hopes to have 'fruitful discussion' on Russian frozen assets with Germany's Merz
BRUSSELS, Dec 4 - Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said on Thursday he hopes to have a \"fruitful discussion\" with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday about an EU plan to use Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Friedrich Merz wants to secure the survival of Ukraine with the help of frozen Russian billions. Belgium says: No. Now it comes to the showdown in Brussels.
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