Italy, Belgium, Malta, and Bulgaria have opposed the EU's plan to transfer 210 billion euros of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine. They are calling on the European Commission to consider alternative options for financial assistance, such as joint EU debt.
The Belgian central securities depository Euroclear may compensate for the seizure of its assets in Russia at the expense of frozen Russian funds in the EU. This was a response to a lawsuit filed by the Russian Central Bank regarding alleged damages.
The European Commission is ready to include the guarantees that Belgium is demanding for the use of immobilized assets of the Russian central bank. This will allow Ukraine to be provided with a "reparation loan" to compensate for war damages.
The Central Bank of the Russian Federation has filed a lawsuit against the Belgian depositary Euroclear regarding frozen Russian assets. The lawsuit will be heard in the Moscow arbitration court, where the central bank accuses Euroclear of causing damage due to the inability to dispose of funds and securities.
The European Union is developing strategies to persuade Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to support the allocation of 210 billion euros to Ukraine. If Belgium continues to block the plan, it may be ignored at the EU level, similar to Hungary.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever does not rule out legal action if the EU decides to seize Russian assets in Euroclear, emphasizing that the risks cannot be borne solely by Belgium. He considers confiscation a radical and ill-considered step, proposing other options for financing aid to Ukraine.
ECB President Christine Lagarde stated that the new EU proposal on using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine is the most compliant with international law. EU leaders are discussing the involvement of 210 billion euros of Russian sovereign assets frozen in Europe.
US sanctions against Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft, which came into force on November 21, could cause a structural reorganization of the global oil sector. This will lead to the forced sale of assets and the redistribution of ownership of fields and refineries around the world.
The President of the European Council, António Costa, is confident that a decision on financing for Ukraine for 2026-2027 will be made at the December EU summit. He noted that the bloc is "very close to reaching a decision" amid the proposal of two options: a "reparations loan" or EU borrowing.
The European Union may announce a decision on the confiscation of frozen Russian assets within two weeks. These funds, up to 100 billion pounds sterling, or over 130 billion US dollars, include 8 billion pounds sterling (over 10 billion dollars) in the United Kingdom and are intended to provide funding for aid to Ukraine.
Japan rejected the EU's proposal to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. Tokyo refused to use $30 billion in frozen assets held on its territory to issue a loan to Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha discussed the planned delivery of F-16 fighter jets and military aid to Ukraine with Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken. The conversation also touched upon Belgium's contribution to multinational NATO initiatives aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities.
The President of the European Commission also emphasized that "Europe's defense is our responsibility," summarizing plans to increase defense spending and production.
Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the UK for meetings with E3 leaders. After that, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Starmer and participate in a phone call with the leaders of Finland, Italy, NATO, and the EU, and then head to Belgium.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in the United Kingdom. He will meet with the British Prime Minister, the leaders of France and Germany, and then fly to Belgium.
France is under pressure to finance Ukraine using €18 billion in Russian sovereign assets, whose location Paris has concealed for over two years. These assets, mostly immobilized in private banks, represent the second-largest accumulation of frozen Russian central bank assets in Europe.
EU countries will have to allocate billions of euros to guarantee loans to Ukraine totaling up to 210 billion euros, with Germany providing support of up to 52 billion euros. The European Commission presented these figures after proposing a "reparation loan" for Ukraine of 165 billion euros from frozen Russian assets.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The meeting takes place amid fears that the US may pressure Ukraine to accept a peace deal with Russia.
The Netherlands scrambled two F-35 fighter jets in response to reports of an unknown drone in its airspace. The drone posed no threat and left the country's airspace; its origin remains unclear.
FIFA has released the schedule for the 2026 World Cup group stage, highlighting matches with the highest expected temperatures, particularly in Inglewood and Philadelphia. Some teams, such as South Korea and Canada, will benefit from convenient logistics, playing consecutive matches in the same location.
European Union leaders will discuss the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine at a summit on December 18. Belgium has a special position on this issue, and the US is trying to block EU plans to use these assets.
Hungary blocked the decision to issue Eurobonds to finance Ukraine, which was an alternative to the "reparation loan. " Belgium also opposes it due to fears of lawsuits from Russia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of financial support for Ukraine for European security. She also stated that Belgium's situation regarding frozen Russian assets must be resolved in such a way that all European states bear the same risk.
Hungary has officially refused to issue Eurobonds to support Ukraine. This complicates the search for alternative sources of financing for Kyiv if the EU cannot use frozen Russian assets.
Three new Ukrainian-language audio guides have appeared in Romania, France, and Belgium, announced First Lady Olena Zelenska. Now, 115 Ukrainian audio guides are operating in 59 countries worldwide.
The German Bundestag has passed a new military service law that provides for a two-tier system with voluntary service and possible conscription. This is intended to increase the size of the Bundeswehr, as 18-year-old men will receive notices of readiness to serve.
The US is trying to block EU plans to use frozen assets of the Russian central bank to support a loan to Ukraine. Washington believes that these assets are necessary to secure a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.
European leaders are warning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to succumb to Russia's demands without ironclad security commitments from the United States. They advise clearly defining America's role in security guarantees for Kyiv before agreeing to Russia's demands.
The UK government plans to transfer £8 billion of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. These funds could cover more than two-thirds of Ukraine's financial needs for the next two years.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever will hold talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Belgium expresses concerns about legal aspects and potential risks for its taxpayers.
