European partners are ready to provide Ukraine with an interest-free loan of almost 140 billion euros. The loan will only be repaid after Russia compensates Ukraine for the damage caused by the war. This was written by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in his column in the Financial Times, UNN reports.
A viable solution must now be developed, through which – without interfering with property rights – we can provide Ukraine with an interest-free loan totaling almost 140 billion euros. This loan will only be repaid after Russia compensates Ukraine for the damage it caused during this war. Until then, Russian assets will remain frozen, as decided by the European Council.
He reminded that Germany continues to be cautious about the idea of confiscating the assets of Russia's central bank. This is particularly due to the risks to the euro as a reserve currency.
Germany has been and remains cautious on the issue of confiscating the assets of the Russian central bank frozen in Europe, and not without reason. There are not only international legal issues to consider, but also fundamental questions about the role of the euro as a global reserve currency. But this should not deter us: we must consider how, by circumventing these problems, we can make these funds available to defend Ukraine.
According to the German Chancellor, the funds provided will ensure Ukraine's defense capability for several years.
The funds mobilized in this way will ensure Ukraine's defense capability for several years. I will discuss this proposal with the European heads of state and government at our meeting in Copenhagen next Wednesday. I propose that at the European Council meeting at the end of October we give a mandate to prepare this instrument in a legally secure manner.
He also emphasized that Ukraine should use these funds only for military purposes.
For Germany, it is important that these additional funds are used exclusively to finance Ukraine's military equipment, and not for general budget purposes. Payments should be made in installments. Member states and Ukraine will jointly determine what materials will be purchased.
Addition
As Politico wrote, Brussels has gained an influential ally in the controversial initiative to transfer billions of euros of frozen Russian state assets to Ukraine.
A senior German official told the publication that Berlin is open to "new, legally sound" plans to use 172 billion euros of frozen Russian funds to support Ukraine's military efforts, referring to the European Commission's idea.