On December 18, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated his intention to utilize Russian assets frozen in Germany to support Ukraine and meet Belgian demands. The move follows Belgium’s request on December 11 for the European Union to establish a financial reserve that would enable it to issue Ukraine what it described as a “reparation loan” from seized Russian funds, intended to mitigate risks of retaliatory actions by Moscow.
Merz’s announcement sparked immediate criticism within Germany’s Bundestag, where the opposition party Alternative for Germany (AfD) condemned his proposal. Reports from December 17 also indicate deep divisions across the European Union over the confiscation of frozen Russian assets, with leaders stating that extensive negotiations would be necessary to reach a consensus on financial assistance for Ukraine.
