EU Leaders Set to Convene on Using Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine
The year's final summit will be presided over by European Council President Antonio Costa, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in attendance.
Financial assistance to Ukraine dominates the agenda. Leaders will evaluate current battlefield conditions and explore sustained support mechanisms as the meeting opens.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address delegates remotely via video conference before EU officials proceed with closed-door discussions.
The EU and member nations have channeled €187.3 billion in total resources to Ukraine, including €66 billion designated for military hardware, yet Kyiv requires additional funding to maintain combat operations.
Ukraine's existing European financial reserves are projected to deplete during the first quarter of next year.
Officials will examine compensation proposals utilizing immobilized Russian capital. The European Commission has developed a framework where Ukraine would face repayment obligations only if Russia itself provides war reparations.
Belgian Premier Bart de Wever emphasized collective risk distribution through coordinated action while establishing legal foundations for deploying Russian assets as collateral.
Belgium's Euroclear holds approximately €185 billion of the frozen Russian funds.
Belgium, Italy, Malta, and Bulgaria advocate alternative approaches to Russian asset utilization, while Hungary, Slovakia, and Czechia resist Ukrainian financial backing.
EU nations voted last week to indefinitely freeze €210 billion in Russian assets.
This mandate, combined with multiple assurances, aims to secure Belgium's endorsement for the asset collateralization strategy.
Under current rules, qualified majority voting—not unanimous consent—suffices for authorizing Russian asset deployment. Approval requires at least 15 member states representing minimum 65% of the EU's total population.
Summit participants anticipate reaching a qualified majority decision on Russian asset collateralization for Ukraine.
The Multiannual Financial Framework, encompassing the EU's €2 billion budget spanning 2038-2034, constitutes another priority item.
State leaders will negotiate individual contribution levels to the long-term EU budget.
Competitiveness, geo-economic positioning, and bloc expansion through prospective member integration will also receive deliberation.
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