"The top priority for the bloc is how to keep funding Ukraine, especially as the US under President Donald Trump rolls back its support. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said Kyiv needs 137 billion ($160 billion) over the next years. The European Commission has proposed a "reparations loan" of 90 billion to be lent to Ukraine until the war ends and Russia agrees to pay for the damage."
"The money would be taken from the roughly 210 billion of frozen Russian assets held in the EU, mostly in Belgium. "It is up to us to choose how we fund Ukraine's fight. We know the urgency. It is acute. We all feel it. We all see it," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. However, Belgium has strongly opposed it, fearing retaliation from Russia."
EU decision-makers are focused on sustaining funding for Ukraine as US support under President Donald Trump wanes. The IMF estimates Kyiv needs 137 billion ($160 billion) over the coming years. The European Commission proposed a 90 billion "reparations loan" to be lent until the war ends and Russia pays for the damage, financed from roughly 210 billion of frozen Russian assets held in the EU, mostly in Belgium. Belgium opposes the plan citing fear of Russian retaliation; Hungary and Slovakia also oppose it. A qualified majority (15 of 27 states representing 65% of the population) could approve the measure, but member-state disagreement makes the outcome uncertain and talks may overrun.
Read at www.dw.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]