Overview
- At the 23 October summit, EU leaders are expected to reaffirm plans to finance Ukraine’s 2026–27 needs partly using proceeds from immobilised Russian assets.
- Leaders plan to ask the Commission for proposals on the gradual use of cash balances tied to frozen Russian funds, backed by EU solidarity and risk‑sharing.
- Belgium has signalled it will not block the reparations or solidarity loan despite legal concerns linked to Euroclear’s role as custodian in Belgium.
- Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said EU support has reached nearly €178 billion, including €62.3 billion for weapons, with a €45 billion G7 loan in 2024 to be repaid from asset profits and over €22 billion of such proceeds already spent.
- Legal and political hurdles persist, including an anticipated Hungarian veto, reported U.S. non‑endorsement, and complex designs such as ERA loans and zero‑coupon bond swaps targeted for approval by end‑2025.