Прямой эфир. Репарационный кредит или совместный заём? Лидеры ЕС должны определить, как дальше оказывать помощь Украине

Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said the European Union must engage in “final talks with Russia” if it wants to achieve peace on the continent.

"The fact that we are talking to each other is pretty nice and full of media slogans, but a strong step against peace is only possible today,” Golob told reporters on the sidelines of the European Council.

Golob stressed that the issue goes beyond money, noting that “there are alternatives,” including contributions from each member state. “The frozen assets probably are not enough,” Golob said.

Fifteen EU leaders have held a sixth informal coordination meeting on “innovative solutions” to address migration, co-chaired by the prime ministers of Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands, a diplomatic source said.

Other EU leaders took part in the talks, including from Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Poland, Czech Republic, Latvia, Malta, Hungary and Sweden.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also attended the meeting.

Credits photo: European Union

"We're very much in favour of the utilisation of the immobilised assets or the raising of a clapper alone against the assets to finance Ukraine over the next two years,” Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin told reporters on the sidelines of the European Council summit.

Ireland argues that there needs to be deterrence against countries like Russia that violate the UN Charter, undermine the sovereignty of other nations, and then destroy those countries, their civil infrastructure, and their energy infrastructure. 

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal told reporters that the reparations loan is needed to uphold the principle that "the aggressor must pay" and show Ukraine and the rest of the world that "Europe is up to (the) task".

"If we can make a decision with the frozen assets, that also has the indication to our partners that we mean business," he added.

If leaders can't agree on a solution today, "then we have to continue tomorrow" and if they fail then, "then day after that, because I have a calendar free for that," Michal said. "But jokes aside, I would say that for Europe this is like make it or break it moment, because everybody's looking at us with the frozen assets." 

Leaders are also set to discuss the proposal for the bloc's next multi-annual financial framework, which will cover the 2028-2034 period. Earlier this year, the European Commission put forward a nearly €2 trillion proposal.

Michal said the "first proposal is quite good", notably because it includes more money for defence.

"What needs more attention probably is the eastern border because (the) eastern region has been affected by Russian warfare," he argued.

Michal and the leaders of other so-called frontline states attended the first-of-its-kind Eastern Flank Summit on Tuesday where they called for the "prioritisation" of EU funds towards the Eastern Flank Watch flagship project in the Commission's Defence Readiness 2030 Roadmap.

Eastern flank must be prioritised for EU defence funding, leaders say

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The Netherlands will guarantee up to €14 billion if EU leaders agree to use frozen Russian assets for a reparations loan, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof told reporters upon arriving at the summit on Thursday.

"We have to share the risks with each other. I think that is a fair objection on the part of the Belgians," he said, adding: "I think it's important that we figure it out today".

The proposal on the table would see member states take on guarantees proportionally. Germany, the EU's largest economy, would likely guarantee up to €52 billion. 

On the Mercosur, which is not officially on the agenda but is likely to occupy most of the discussion leaders will have on competitiveness, Schoof said the trade agreement as it stands is "decent".

He added that farmers' concerns over the treaty are "important" but that "a number of additional measures have been taken" to assuage them.

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa told reporters that the best way to support Ukraine would be to reach an agreement on Russia’s immobilised assets, adding that such a move would allow Europe to send a strong message to Moscow.

“The first and the best option is to use frozen assets, to show a strategic move," Siliņa said. "Europe is able to decide and to show a red flag to Russia.”

She said that many of the legal aspects of this approach have already been resolved and would not affect Member States’ debt levels. While acknowledging Belgium’s legal concerns, the Latvian prime minister stressed that a political decision is now required.

“Belgium is surely in a very sensitive situation, but it is also a question of political will, not just legal aspects," she said. But we are politicians, we are the ones who are making rules as well so we have to figure out how we decide on that, not just for Ukraine, but for Europe as well.“

Silina said another option to support Ukraine would be joint borrowing. But to agree on this, unanimity is needed, and Hungary is not supporting the idea.

António Costa, the president of the European Council and chair of today's crucial summit, has underlined that no decision on the reparations loan shall be taken without Belgian consent. Belgium holds €185 billion in immobilised Russian assets and fears being liable for the unprecedented scheme.

"I want to commend Belgium and Prime Minister Bart De Wever (for raising) critical legal and technical issues in a very constructive way," Costa said upon arrival.

"We will never leave this Council without a final decision (for Ukraine), and we will never approve the solution that does not ensure all the security for Belgium and the Belgians."

Financing Ukraine through joint EU borrowing on the financial markets is the “easier” option, but it would require a strong majority—or even unanimity—Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden told journalists on Thursday ahead of the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels.

“It is easier because it does not jeopardise financial stability of the Eurozone, and it does not entails complex technical discussions," Frieden said.

The Prime Minister said the use of immobilised assets, which is the other option on the table, is more complex. "It was never done before and it raises complex legal issues."

There are €210 billion of Russian sovereign assets in Europe, of which €185 billion are held in Euroclear, a Brussels-based depository. But Belgium has firmly resisted the initiative, fearing it would face Russia's retaliation and multi-billion-euro losses at court. The country has demanded that other member states provide strong guarantees.

“We have to find a group of countries which share the risks” if Russia launches a court case to claim the assets at the end of the war or once sanctions are lifted, the Luxembourg PM said.

The asset's option would require a qualified majority to be used among the 27 member states.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola told reporters on Thursday morning as she arrived at the summit that "the most important thing we can do today is to stand with all our full unity behind President Zelenskyy and Ukraine."

"That means we need to resolve the financing issue here. The European Parliament is willing to cooperate on all fronts. We are ready to go and move urgently if a decision is taken on the reparations loan."

"But make no mistake, we are in a no-choice scenario if we want to help Ukraine, if we want to reassure that Europe's security is guaranteed. Then we need to find a solution today on the financing of Ukraine," Metsola added.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever will not take part in the arrival doorsteps at today’s crucial EU summit, as he addressed the Belgian parliament earlier today.

This is a big disappointment for reporters: De Wever is the chief opponent of the reparations loan for Ukraine and is always generous in his remarks to the media. In October, his intervention in the morning set the tone for the remainder of the day.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said there is enough support in the European Council to block the idea of using Russia’s frozen assets to support Ukraine.

“I think the issue of frozen assets is dead. Last night, I saw that there are enough opposing countries here to form a blocking minority. So I think this is a dead issue.”

Orbán added that leaders should re-examine the issue of financing Ukraine. He will refuse to accept a joint borrowing for Ukraine even if Hungary gets an opt-out from the financial guarantees.

“For Hungary, the path of financing Ukraine from a joint loan is absolutely not possible, but beyond the legal limits, I would not agree with it. I think that we should not finance war, but peace. What I am trying to achieve here today is that we take steps towards peace, not war. “

Orbán reiterated his previous statement that using Russia’s sovereign assets would equal a declaration of war.

“The plan is to take the seized property of one of the parties at war and give it to the other side," he said. "This is nothing more than a declaration of war.”

Orbán also said he supported farmers protesting in Brussels. The Mercosur free trade agreement with Latin-American countries “would kill farmers," he added.

Pedro Sánchez has urged the EU to be "coherent" in their response to Ukraine and Gaza, warning about "double standards" accusations from other countries.

Upon arrival, he outlined three key principles: unity, coherence and action. "We have to make one decision, be it one or the other, about the support needed for the Ukrainian people at this critical time," Sánchez said.

The Spanish leader also urged the EU to sign the free trade deal with Mercosur, which is close to falling apart after Italy sided with France and requested a delay in the vote.

"This agreement is one of many for Europe to gain geo-political and geo-economic weight," he said. "Europe must be open to this type of commercial agreement."

"It would be very frustrating if Europe failed to reach a deal with Mercosur," he added.

Associated Press.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told journalists on Thursday that finding an agreement on using Russian immobilised assets to finance Ukraine is the better option on the table.

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday to decide how to raise at least €90 billion to meet Ukraine's financial and military needs for 2026 and 2027.

Two options are currently on the table: The first is to use frozen Russian Central Bank assets to create a zero-interest loan for Ukraine, which Kyiv would repay only if Russia later pays war reparations.

The second option would entail the EU collectively raising funds by borrowing on the financial markets, following a model similar to that adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kristersson said he wasn’t hopeful about the second option as it requires unanimity to be approved. However, he urged the EU to find ways to satisfy Belgium, which holds the majority of the assets.

"Everyone understands that the country that has 90% of the assets must be involved in such a solution. That is why I believe and hope that we can find technical solutions to issues that Belgium is still raising", Kristersson said.

"We’re not there yet, so I won’t be announcing any victory on this issue until much later this evening", the Prime Minister added.

Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda reiterated the country’s continued support to Ukraine, saying now is the moment for the European Union “to be tough”. “This is not the time to hesitate, we have to touch untouchables like Gazprom and Lukoil because only those bold decisions will make an impact in Russia’s economy,” Nauseda told reporters ahead of today’s European council summit.

He said the decision will have a significant impact on the Russian economy, which is already in bad shape.

The Lithuanian President said the country welcomed the European Commission's proposal for a risk-sharing mechanism to support Belgium, which hosts the bank holding the Russian immobilised assets, Euroclear.

"Lithuania understands the situation of Belgium and some other member states affected. We are ready to participate in risk-sharing mechanisms that countries will step in, so that they should not be punished for their actions,” Nauseda added. 

Let's go back to Ursula von der Leyen for a moment. Upon her arrival, the president of the European Commission also spoke about the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, which is close to collapsing after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sided with France to request a delay in the vote. If the vote doesn't happen this week, von der Leyen won't be able to fly to Brazil to sign the text.

"We have to get rid of our over-dependencies. This is only possible through a network of free-trade agreements," von der Leyen told reporters. "And therefore, Mercosur plays a central role in our trade agreements. It is potentially a market of 700 million consumers, like-minded countries that want free trade together."

"It is of enormous importance that we get the greenlight for Mercosur and that we can complete the signature for Mercosur," she added.

European Council President António Costa said upon arriving at the summit that leaders will not leave "without a final decision to ensure the financial needs for Ukraine for 2026, 2027".

He added that there is "large support" in the Council for the reparations loan.

"To put in motion this decision is crucial to increase the pressure on Russia", he also said, and put Ukraine in the "best conditions" for peace talks.

High Representative Kaja Kallas has promised that Belgium, the prime custodian of the Russian assets, won't be outvoted on the reparations loan.

"Many member states have said that Belgian consent is very important, so I don't think we are going to move without Belgium being comfortable," Kallas said upon arrival at the summit.

Kallas argued that if the reparations loan becomes law, it will remove the pressure from Belgium because it will become a European-wide solution and the EU, as a whole, will be responsible for it.

"It is the most viable option right now on the table; we need to work with that, as we have tried other things before," Kallas said. "I really hope we get this over the finish line."

Asked if the reparations loan could imperil the US-led peace talks, the High Representative said that the "peace deal is jeopardised by Russia, which hasn't accepted anything". She then urged leaders to find a solution this week, warning that Moscow is "banking on us to fail".

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz maintained his position on the use of frozen Russian assets and said EU leaders need to decide “between today and tomorrow” whether to approve the Mercosur trade deal with the EU and South American countries, including Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.

On the frozen Russian assets, Merz said he “doesn’t see any other option” and that it’s possible to “come to a conclusion” during the summit.

"I understand the concerns that some member states have, especially with the Belgian government, but I hope that we will be able to clear them up together and that we also can take a path together from this European Union, to show a sign of strength and determination towards Russia,” Merz told reporters. 

On Mercosur, a trade deal that has been in the making for the past 25 years, the EU is facing resistance from France and Italy, which could block it.

“It is time to make a decision. If the European Union wants to remain credible in the trade policy of the world, then decisions must be made now,” Merz said.

"And the decision can only be that Europe agrees and that the Commission President and the Council President tomorrow travel to South America and sign this agreement,” he added, saying he's "confident" the agreement will succeed.

In a very short doorstep statement upon arriving at the summit, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters that the reparations loan to Ukraine will be resolved “either today or tomorrow".

“This is our decision to make,” the former Council President said.

The Polish government strongly supports the loan for Ukraine, which is a European proposal to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's war effort, and it will be the hottest topic on the table when EU leaders meet today.

“We need to give Ukraine the means to survive this war, borders cannot be changed by force," Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden told Euronews’ flagship programme Europe Today. 

European leaders are gathering today and tomorrow in Brussels to discuss the most urgent issues to solve before the end of the year, including how to finance Ukraine from the beginning of 2026.

There are two main ways being considered to raise the EU’s €90 billion share to provide Ukraine with financing for the next two years.

The first would be to use frozen Russian Central Bank assets to create a zero-interest loan for Ukraine, which Kyiv would only repay if Russia later pays war reparations. The second would involve the EU jointly borrowing money on financial markets, similar to the approach used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We will find a solution, we have two options on the table," Frieden said. The use of frozen assets, the prime minister said, is "complex but we can find a way to make it work”.

There are €210 billion of Russian sovereign assets in the EU, of which €185 billion are held in Euroclear, a Brussels-based depository.

Belgium has demanded other member states provide strong guarantees.

“We have to find a group of countries which share the risks” in the scenario in which Russia launches a court case to claim the assets at the end of the war or once sanctions are lifted.

“We need to be united because the US might not be there with us in the future," the Prime Minister pointed out, referring to Washington's gradual disengagement in supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia.

The European Union should honour the commitments it has made to its Mercosur partners, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden told Euronews’ flagship programme Europe Today.

Addressing farmers’ concerns over the trade deal, the prime minister said these issues “can be solved domestically,” stressing the importance of ensuring the agreement does not fail, amid several EU countries expressing reservations over the deal.

Ursula von der Leyen has arrived at the EU summit with a clear-cut message: "We have to find a solution today," she said. "We won't leave the European Council without a solution for the funding for Ukraine for the next two years."

The president of the European Commission has proposed two options: the reparations loans, based on the immobilised Russian assets, and joint debt, backed by the EU budget. Though she has previously advocated in favour of the reparations loan, today she made no special distinction, saying simply that "the most important part" is to raise €90 billion to meet Ukraine's needs for 2026 and 2027.

Von der Leyen said that it is "absolutely understandable" that Belgium, the prime custodian of the Russian assets, has concerns about the reparations loan. "I totally support Belgium that they insisting on having their worries and concerns accommodated, and we’re working day and night with Belgium," she said, thanking Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever for his "engagement".

"If we take the reparations loan, the risk has to be shared by all of us. This is a matter of solidarity and a core principle of the European Union," she said.

As we wait for EU leaders to make their way into the summit, we want to get you up to speed on the main issue: the reparations loan.

Under the scheme, the financial institutions that hold the immobilised assets of the Russian Central Bank would transfer their cash balances to the Commission, which would then issue a zero-interest loan to Ukraine. Kyiv would be asked to repay only after Moscow ends its war and compensates for the damage its invasion has wrought. Moscow would then be able to recover its money, completing the cycle.

While the proposal has been met with public enthusiasm by some leaders, like Germany's Friedrich Merz and Denmark's Mette Frederiksen, it faces staunch opposition from others, such as Belgium's Bart De Wever and Hungary's Viktor Orbán.

We break down who's in favour and who's against.

Reparations loan for Ukraine: Who’s in favour and who’s against?

The European Union’s bold attempt to issue a reparations loan to Ukraine using immobilised Russian assets has sharply divided the bloc’s key leaders. Ahead of…