Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever said he expects the European Commission to keep frozen Russian funds out of any new Ukraine financing plan, as Kyiv seeks additional support.
Addressing Belgium’s Federal Advisory Committee on European Affairs on Wednesday, De Wever said the matter surfaced at last week’s EU summit, Belga news agency reported. He said the Commission had assured EU leaders it would leave the Brussels-based Euroclear holdings out of a new funding proposal.
EU leaders approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine to cover 2026 and 2027 after De Wever opposed a plan last year involving roughly €185 billion ($207 billion) in frozen Russian holdings at Euroclear. Anadolu Agency reported the loan may not meet all of Kyiv’s needs and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked at the summit for another €70 billion in 2027.
Costa said the Commission had been tasked with preparing a response to Ukraine’s additional financing request for 2027. EU leaders said they would revisit the matter after leaving the request unresolved.
De Wever said other EU countries might revive the asset question. He faulted Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten’s public support for taking the funds and cautioned that public statements in favor could bring legal consequences. He said EU leaders no longer had what he called “overwhelming enthusiasm” for the proposal.
