According to Euractiv, seven EU countries oppose providing a compensation loan to Ukraine.
Belgium, where most of the 210 billion euros in Russian assets are held through Euroclear, opposes the plan. Italy, Bulgaria, and Malta have joined them in calling for alternatives to be considered. The Czech Republic has also supported this position. However, Hungary and Slovakia have strongly criticized any idea of using Russian funds to finance Ukraine.
The European Commission acknowledges that obtaining a loan without Belgium’s consent would be extremely difficult, even though it would legally require only a qualified majority. However, the EU currently sees no other realistic options for financing Ukraine.
