Overview
- Von der Leyen outlined three financing paths, calling the use of frozen Russian state assets to back loans the most effective option.
- The Commission’s concept envisions loans of up to €140 billion, with repayment linked to future Russian reparations and member‑state guarantees as a safeguard.
- Belgium has blocked consensus, citing significant legal risks and potential fallout for European companies still operating in Russia, with Euroclear holding most of the assets.
- EU officials say Ukraine’s military and financial support needs over the next two years are expected to total in the three‑digit‑billion range.
- In Kyiv, courts ordered pretrial detention for initial suspects in an energy‑sector graft case after the energy and justice ministers resigned on the president’s instruction, while Russian claims of taking two settlements remained unverified.