Representatives of the Donald Trump administration in the United States are pressuring European countries to abandon the EU's plan to use Russian assets to lend to Kiev, Politico reports, citing sources.
„Representatives of the Trump administration are pressuring European governments - at least those they consider the most friendly - to abandon the plan to use Russian assets to finance Ukraine“, the publication states.
Since the start of hostilities, the European Union and G-7 countries have frozen approximately half of Russia's foreign exchange reserves. Over 200 billion euros are held in the EU, mostly in Euroclear accounts.
Moscow has retaliated by accumulating the assets of foreign investors from "hostile" countries and their income in special "C" accounts. They can only be withdrawn by decision of a special government commission.
The EU, which promised to support Kiev for as long as necessary, has exhausted all available resources, and EU countries are unwilling to allocate funds from their own budgets.
The European Commission is currently seeking Belgium's consent to use Russian assets.
The loan in question is between 185 and 210 billion euros, the so-called reparations loan. Ukraine is said to pay it back after the conflict ends if Moscow "pays for material damages." Belgian authorities have so far refused to comply with the EU's request. Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever called the European Commission's proposal theft and did not rule out legal action. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said a decision to seize assets could be made at the EU summit on December 18. The Central Bank of Russia filed a lawsuit against Euroclear on Monday for more than 18 trillion rubles, calling the EC's plans illegal and accusing the depositary of causing damage.