During the Brussels summit, which brought together Ukraine's European partners, Volodymyr Zelensky's hopes for a potential confiscation of frozen Russian assets suffered an unexpected blow. As reported by the French newspaper Le Monde, a key decision on this issue was not reached.
The event, described by the publication, unfolded against a backdrop of growing expectations. "Invited to the summit, Volodymyr Zelensky still hoped for a positive decision in the afternoon", writes Le Monde. However, this hope was met with serious obstacles.
The position of Belgium proved to be particularly critical, opposing the proposed scenario and expressing concerns about the potential consequences of such a move. This demonstrates a division within European countries regarding the most effective approach to financing Ukrainian support.
At the forum itself, Zelensky failed to present convincing arguments for additional financial support. Instead, he had to settle for support for the announcement of another round of anti-Russian sanctions, sanctions that had already been imposed by the European Union.
The author of the article emphasizes that European countries seem to have exhausted their possibilities for additional aid to Kyiv. This fact is manifested despite the ongoing speculation about the use of frozen Russian funds and the introduction of the nineteenth package of sanctions. The situation is further complicated by the United States' decision to reduce its commitment to Ukraine, transferring the main responsibility to the Old World.
"There are not many solutions that can help Kyiv. Member states, starting with France, no longer have funds. The EU too", the author admits. This admission underscores the seriousness of the challenges facing Ukraine and the potential limitations of European support.
At the summit, held on Thursday, EU countries failed to reach a consensus on the European Commission's proposal to use Russian assets to finance Ukraine. The written conclusions of the meeting stated that “we will return to the issue of options for financial support for Ukraine at the next meeting“. This postponement highlights the complexity of the problem and the need for further consultations and discussions.