![\"Belgium](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/32f46fe37676d60a5276f54a856da8e5.png\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n Belgium opposes using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine (Photo: wikimedia)\n <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is non-negotiable, the door is closed. Our prime
\nminister will stand his ground,\u201d Francken said.<\/p>\n
He said Belgium\u2019s opposition had sparked outrage. Francken
\nsingled out the Baltic states \u2014 the strongest supporters of a reparations loan
\n\u2014 for refusing to abandon the idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey should also be careful about constantly bringing this
\nissue up again and putting us in a corner. I don\u2019t think that is wise,\u201d
\nFrancken said.<\/p>\n
The defense minister stressed that Lithuania, Latvia and
\nEstonia receive significant support from Belgium.<\/p>\n
Use of frozen Russian assets \u2014 key facts<\/p>\n
On Dec. 19, 2025, European Commission President Ursula von
\nder Leyen explained that Ukraine would be financed for the next two years
\nthrough EU borrowing on capital markets. Kyiv would repay the 90 billion euro
\ndebt only after Russia pays reparations, while Russian assets in Europe would
\nremain frozen until then. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever opposed a direct
\nreparations loan, while securities depository Euroclear threatened legal action
\nagainst the EU if the funds were transferred to Ukraine.<\/p>\n
The United Kingdom then declined to use its 8 billion in
\nfrozen Russian assets on its own to help Ukraine. The Financial Times reported
\nthat French President Emmanuel Macron had effectively killed the EU proposal to
\nuse 210 billion euros by siding with opponents of the plan at a decisive
\nmoment.<\/p>\n
On Feb. 26, 2026, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul
\nsaid the EU would no longer consider transferring the assets to Ukraine. A
\nEuropean Commission spokesperson said a few days later that the Commission\u2019s
\nposition differed significantly from Wadephul\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n
On March 31, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced
\nthat the European Union would provide Ukraine with 80 million euros from income
\ngenerated by the frozen assets \u2014 not the assets themselves.<\/p>\n
On Aug. 8, former senior officials from Germany, France and
\nthe United States called on the EU to urgently take control of frozen Russian
\ncentral bank assets.<\/p>\n
On Aug. 27, the Financial Times reported that Sweden, the
\nNetherlands, Spain and Poland had urged Brussels to reopen talks on using
\nfrozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine.<\/p>\n
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