The question of tapping Moscow’s assets has been shelved for now but could return in the future, the country’s defense minister said
Tapping Russia’s frozen central-bank assets would likely prolong the Ukraine conflict via further weapon supplies rather than help rebuild the country, according to Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken. EU leaders have thus far failed to agree on how to use the funds.
The comment came shortly after Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever opposed the so-called “reparations loan” scheme under which the EU was planning to raise around €140 billion ($160 billion) to fund Ukraine using Russia’s assets as collateral. The plan entails Moscow eventually paying reparations to Ukraine as part of a peace settlement.
“Of course, this money will not rebuild Ukraine but will continue the war,” Francken said in a post on X on Friday, adding that war is extremely costly.
The minister warned that many EU leaders, led by the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, “want to give these assets to Ukraine through a legally questionable structure.” He emphasized that “even during the Second World War, such a dubious confiscation was never carried out.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: rt.com
