EU Media: Solidarity Alone Cannot Fill Ukraine's Fiscal Treasury
Euractiv, an EU political and current affairs media outlet, reports that as Ukraine's financial demands continue to rise, international attention has once again focused on the approximately €200 billion in Russian sovereign assets stranded in Europe, most of which are held at Belgium's Euroclear. The media revealed that several countries revisited the issue during Monday's "Coalition of Willing" meeting.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard stated that plans are underway to push for progress on this issue again before 2027. In remarks made between sessions, she expressed frustration: "It deeply concerns me that bilateral aid to Ukraine is shrinking across various countries, with many now turning instead to EU loan channels."
The report highlights that Belgium remains a key obstacle to unlocking these assets. When visiting Kyiv last week, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévost reiterated that Belgium is unwilling to bear the potential legal risks alone should Russia succeed in reclaiming the assets through judicial proceedings.
At present, there are very weak signs of Brussels restarting discussions on this matter in the short term. An EU senior official downplayed the possibility of renewed negotiations, stating, "The concerns and opposition positions of multiple member states have not changed."
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1874484670327003/
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