In a joint letter to European Council head António Costa and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, the leaders said that agreeing the so-called reparations loan at this month's EU summit would put Ukraine "in a stronger position to defend itself and a better position to negotiate a just and lasting peace."
They added that Europe has backed Kyiv since Russia’s 2022 invasion both on moral grounds and out of security concerns, warning that Moscow’s "imperial policy" threatens other countries as well.
The signatories—the heads of government of Poland, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia and Sweden, along with Lithuania’s president—endorsed the Commission’s proposal to leverage frozen Russian central bank assets held in the EU.
They described the plan as the most financially and politically viable option, consistent with the principle that the aggressor should pay for the damage it caused.
The push comes as Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the EU's von der Leyen attempted on Friday to win over Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever, whose country hosts Euroclear, the clearing house holding the bulk of the frozen funds—some EUR 185 billion of Russian central-bank reserves frozen after the 2022 invasion.
Belgium has repeatedly argued that it could be exposed to legal and financial risks if Russia were to win court cases challenging the use of its assets.
Ahead of Friday's talks, De Wever said he would not be pressured into supporting the plan.
"I can still determine my own position, even if there are large, strong neighbours whom I like very much and greatly respect politically, who might ask me to do something differently," he said. "I have only one responsibility: the interests of the Belgian taxpayers."
Von der Leyen last week outlined draft legislation offering two solutions for future Ukraine financing: tapping frozen Russian assets or issuing EU debt.
She said the proposals would cover two-thirds of Kyiv’s needs for 2026-2027, estimated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at around EUR 90 billion, and insisted that Belgium’s concerns were addressed through proposed guarantees against Russian claims.
The Commission’s plan does not require unanimity among the 27 member states.
Instead, it can pass by qualified majority—at least 15 countries representing 65 percent of the EU's population—meaning Belgium could be outvoted.
(ał/gs)
Source: PAP, Reuters