Belgian PM and Commission president Von der Leyen discussed frozen Russian assets

Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen held a one-hour private meeting on Friday afternoon to discuss the assets of the Russian Central Bank, which are frozen at Euroclear in Brussels.

The Commission wants to use the 140 billion euros as a loan to keep Ukraine financially and militarily afloat for the next two years. Belgium fears the possible legal and financial consequences of this operation and is demanding firm guarantees from the Commission and the other member states to share these risks.

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That is why De Wever insisted at the latest European summit that the Commission should also explore other options. Von der Leyen however maintains that the recovery loan remains the most efficient solution to support Ukraine.

After the meeting, the European Commission remained tight-lipped. There is no indication that the meeting with De Wever led to a breakthrough.

^{European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen (R) and Belgium's prime minister Bart de Wever © PHOTO Nicolas TUCAT / AFP}

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