US EditionPM meets Belgian leader for talks on unlocking Russian assets for Ukraine
UK Prime Minister and Belgian premier discuss unlocking €210 billion in frozen Russian assets at Euroclear to fund Ukraine amidst Belgian calls for risk guarantees, ahead of EU summit.
- On Friday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted Belgian premier Bart De Wever at Number 10 to discuss using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, with Britain ready to move alongside the EU to unlock immobilised Russian sovereign assets.
- Belgium has resisted, calling on the EU to share legal and financial risks amid fears of being left to repay loans if Russia thwarts plans, as Bart De Wever emphasized `very important decisions` next week.
- Valdis Dombrovskis, European Economic Commissioner, said Friday the EU's proposal of `strong guarantees and safeguards` aims to address Belgium's concerns as Moscow's assets held in Europe face indefinite freeze.
- Belgium's stance means fears of loan repayment risk persist as European leaders, including Sir Keir, plan to meet in Berlin on Monday with further talks in Paris over the weekend.
- Relations are strained after the Trump administration accused European officials of holding `unrealistic expectations`, while a coalition of about 30 countries supports Kyiv amid urgent talks co-chaired by Sir Keir Starmer.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Evening Standard
PM meets Belgian leader for talks on unlocking Russian assets for Ukraine
The Prime Minister hosted Bart De Wever at Downing Street meeting on Friday.
Belgium is demanding “independent” and “autonomous” guarantees from EU countries in exchange for support for a proposed “repair loan” for Ukraine, which it plans to provide at the expense of frozen Russian assets.
Belgium demands that guarantees for a planned loan to Ukraine, based on frozen Russian assets, be "independent" and "autonomous", so that they remain in force even if the entire scheme is declared null and void.
It seems more likely that other governments today are hiding behind the Belgian objections, keeping their reservations in the background. And then, perhaps, there is also a less confessable reason
PM to discuss unlocking Russian assets for Ukraine with Belgian leader
The Prime Minister is expected to discuss the plans with Bart De Wever on Friday in a Downing Street meeting. Sir Keir Starmer will discuss using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine in a meeting with the Belgian premier amid resistance in Brussels to the move. The Prime Minister is expected to host Bart De Wever on Friday afternoon for Downing Street talks which will also cover migration and economic growth. Britain has said it is ready to mov…
British Prime Minister Starmer met with the Belgian Prime Minister, who has long opposed the seizure of Russian assets. Starmer stated that the meeting went well.
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