Belgium Blocks Push for Russia Asset Funds
Belgium has closed the door on discussions about using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, with Defense Minister Theo Franken stating the issue is no longer open for debate and warning Baltic states against persistently pushing the topic.
Consensus
- Belgium has closed the door on discussing the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
- Defense Minister Theo Franken stated the issue is no longer subject to discussion.
- Franken warned Baltic states against repeatedly raising the topic.
- The statement was made in an interview with VRT on 29 August.
- The Russian assets in question are held in the Belgian Euroclear depositary.
Points of divergence
- An arbitration court in Moscow ruled on 15 May 2026 that Euroclear must pay 18.17 trillion rubles in damages to the Bank of Russia for losses due to the blocking of Russian assets. — vm
- Several EU countries, including Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland, plan to send a letter to the European Commission urging the resumption of efforts to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. — vesti
Coverage (3 sources)
- Minister Franken: Belgium 'closed the door' on attempts to push through the topic of Russian assets — Вечерняя Москва
- Belgium 'closed the door' on attempts to push the topic of Russian assets again — Вести
- Belgium 'closed the door' on attempts by several EU countries to push again the topic of using Russia's frozen assets. — РИА Новости (Telegram)